PORT HARCOURT— Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has
again accused the Police of bias in the state, saying that they are being used
to unjustly arrest and harass members of his All Progressives Congress, APC.
The governor, who spoke, yesterday, at Government House,
Port Harcourt, said the Police are allegedly conducting themselves as a
political party contesting elections with the APC.
The governor, who said the Police had allegedly failed to
arrest anyone in connection with alleged killings of APC members in the state,
adding that 30 members of his party have so far been killed.
According to him, a minimum of one APC member was killed
daily.
Amaechi further accused the First Lady of allegedly
orchestrating the attacks against APC members in the state.
He said: “I am calling attention to the daily killings and
harassment of APC members in Rivers State under the watchful eyes of the
Nigeria Police. Despite several letters to the Inspector General of Police and
numerous meetings with the Police Commissioner in Rivers State requesting
protection of lives and property, APC members have been denied the most basic
of human rights, the right to life.
“Regrettably, Rivers State’s greatest offence is being the
home state of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan.
“Over 30 APC members have been killed so far. Give me till
8p.m., I will give you the names of those killed today. The election is between
us and the Police and not the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”
The governor also alleged that the Police had withdrawn
security attached to the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku
Peterside, saying it was part of an alleged plot to assassinate the candidate.
He alleged that the plan was to take out Peterside as the
last resort as that was the only way the opposition felt they could stop the
victory of the APC in the forthcoming elections based on the popularity and
acceptability of the APC candidate among Rivers voters.
He expressed fear over the recent withdrawal of Police
security from top APC chieftains in the state, including those of its
gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Peterside.
The governor who flayed the Police for allegedly failing to
make arrest when the APC complained in the state said about 320 members of his
party were being harnessed and threatened with arrest by the Police.
By Jimitola Onoyume
By Jimitota Onoyume
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