Victor Edozie , Port Harcourt
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has called on the security agencies to identify and arrest miscreants who attacked his convoy and set fire on the African Democratic Party office in Ubima community, Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State on Friday.
Amaechi’s convoy was attacked on Friday by suspected gunmen at his community in Ubima and Omuanwa in Ikwerre LGA.
The former Rivers State governor was in his community for his e-registration as a member of the ADC.
But before Amaechi arrived his community around 12:15pm, Friday, suspected thugs had already mounted a road block, turning back every bus identified carrying ADC members attending the visit.
The thugs had earlier, Thursday night, set ablaze the ward office of the ADC in Ubima, Amaechi’s country home.
The miscreants who invaded the community with heavy gun power to stop the former governor’s visit, had shoot sporadically into community and riddled Amaechi’s family house gate with bullets.
However, when the ADC leader arrived to enter his community, the armed thugs stopped his convoy, but the security operatives in the team engaged the criminals.
When the trained security operatives showed more superior fire power, the armed thugs fled into the bushes.
Addressing, hundreds of party members and supporters who were present to witness the e-registration exercise, Amaechi, called for calm.
He thanked the Commissioner of police, the Director of DSS and the Commandant of NSCDC, for their swift intervention during the attack on his convoy.
Amaechi, who spoke after, taking a tour of the burnt party’s office, said the security agencies showed professionalism in their response.
He urged members of the party not to join in causing violence, noting that the tasks is left for the police to unravel, arrest and prosecute those behind the attacks.
“I will thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS. They showed a lot of professionalism, immediately I made contact with them.
“In fact, I wasn’t expecting that kind of cooperation. I thought they would be behind this criminals and not render support. But all of us will agree that the police came out, the NSCDC came DSS came out.
“So we are grateful to them. I’m grateful to them, especially those of them who are here,” Amaechi stated.
He continued, “”But they must also know that this cannot continue. The way they will show us that this cannot continue is that they must prosecute those who are involved in this crime.”
Amaechi urged the State governor to make efforts to provide adequate security in all parts of the state, to avert anarchy.
He e couraged members of the party to commence massive mobilisation, adding that the target is presidency.
“I have been a governor, and I know the consequences of not protecting the lives of people. The people will begin to protect their lives by themselves because they don’t want to die.
“But for now everybody should come down. Everybody should thank the Commissioner of Police. Everybody should thank the Director of SSS and the Comandant of NSCDC.
“Our role is to be calm, is to be peaceful. We are marching to Aso Rock. What they are doing is a distraction. What they are doing will not put food on your table.
“We are hungry. If you are not hungry, tell them I am hungry. People are dropping dead every day because of hunger.
And there’s a few people who are stealing our money, and they say we should keep quiet.
“We can no longer keep quiet. ADC Rivers State, you must register en mass.You must make sure that we have enough members to surprise them.
On election day, they will know whether we will vote or not.”
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko could not confirm the story at press time.
