President Muhammadu Buhari has advised all stakeholders in Rivers State to discard the temptation of rigging today’s election in the state. The President in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also called for peaceful and orderly conduct of the rerun.

 Buhari urged all the parties and the people of the state to ensure that the polls are conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.

“The rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair to the extent that people would be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts. Innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power,” the President warned.

The President warned security and law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and nonpartisanship in the discharge of their constitutional duties even in the face of extreme provocations telegraph reports.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians however expressed disappointment over the comments made by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie- Oyegun and the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi at the party’s Thursday rally in Port Harcourt. They accused the duo of making inciting comments that could lead to bloodletting, lamenting that the state had been peaceful and should remain so whether election takes place or not.

Though he had denied making any provocative statement, Oyegun was quoted to have said: “If they push you, push them. If they slap you, slap them. Don’t be afraid, don’t let anyone intimidate you. The Federal Government has provided enough security to ensure a peaceful election”.

Amaechi was also quoted, saying: “Let them know that they are not the only ones that have right to their lives. We all have a right to our lives. So, this election is the election of our lives. The Federal Government has provided enough security, so come out and vote for APC candidates”.

A number of had raised serious concern over such comments, noting that leaders like Oyegun and Amaechi ought to work towards peace, rather than making inciting comments that could turn the state into a theatre of war. One of the callers on a radio programme said the APC only succeeded in preaching politics of bitterness, instead of campaigning like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that Rivers people are wiser, and won’t embrace violence.

“Where were they all this while when the PDP has been campaigning from ward to ward, local government to local government. They have flooded police and soldiers across Rivers in order to win at all cost. They are the ones that want to cause violence and not the PDP.”

… PDP condemns call for violence

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also condemned the call for violence by the two APC leaders. In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party described the statement as a declaration of war against Rivers people.

“This open declaration of war on the people of Rivers State is only reaffirming our earlier position and fear that all the actions and ‘body language’ of the All Progressive Congress (APC) since it took over power in May 2015 is gearing towards erasing democracy and installing full blown dictatorship in Nigeria,” said the party.

It noted that a political rally should have been an opportunity to sell the programme and manifesto of the party to the electorate and not a call for war and violence as the APC leaders had turned it to be. The party said it would not fold its arms and allow the APC and its supporters destroy the nation’s hard earned democracy.

“We therefore call on the Nigeria Police and other relevant security agencies to be alert to their responsibilities and ensure that the election on Saturday (Today) in Rivers State is not only free and fair but also very peaceful, orderly and without any violence. “Dictatorship, avarice and anarchy that has characterized this APC led government since inception may last for a season but freedom and liberty will last for eternity. The APC has nothing more to offer Nigerians, hence the resort to war and attacks on the people,” the PDP stated.

Police mount new road blocks, extort transport operators

Since the deployment of over 28, 000 policemen to the state for today’s election, commercial transport operators have been on the receiving end with police mounting new road blocks across some parts of the city, extorting money from the operators. Two nights before the election, motorists, especially commercial cab and bus drivers have been having a tough time in the hands of mobile policemen.

The policemen mount road blocks once it is dark using it to extort money from commercial transport operators, resulting in traffic bottlenecks. In some internal roads in Port Harcourt, commercial bus drivers are forced to part with between N100 and N200 before they are allowed to drive through while those who fail to comply are delayed until they comply.

On Thursday evening along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt, policemen were seen openly extorting money from commercial bus drivers, who brought out N100 notes without complaints. Tricycle operators in some of the areas where the state government has granted them permission to operate, pay a minimum of N100 if they carry more than two passengers while the ones carrying only two passengers are allowed to go through.

A tricycle operator along Afam Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area, lamented the emergence of policemen in front of the Nkwo Obigbo Market, noting that after being forced to pay N100 at the road block, they would still be forced to pay at two other roadblocks.

“I have been earning my living as a tricycle operator in this Obigbo for more than three years. I have never seen policemen mount road block in front of Nkwo Oyigbo Market. They are forcing us to pay N100, and if you don’t pay they park you,” said the operator, who gave his name as Ibe. Politician advocates peaceful conduc

Oyegun threatens media house with lawsuit over statement

Meanwhile, in a latest development, Oyegun has threatened a national daily (not New Telegraph) with a lawsuit for misrepresenting his statement at the party’s rally on Thursday. His Chief of Staff, Mr. Edwin Ikhinmwin, in a press release in Abuja yesterday denied the inciting statement credited to Oyegun, as he said that the legal department of the party has written the newspaper house for a retraction.

Ikhinmwin said: “The media and general public are advised to disregard the fabricated statements. The statements are false, ill-motivated, mischievous and irresponsible. The Party’s legal department has since written the Nation newspaper requesting a retraction. “The journalism profession across all platforms – online, print and electronic-has a duty to adhere strictly to ethical standards expected of the journalism profession.

No news medium is exempted from these ethical standards. “The APC National Chairman has consistently advocated for peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible elections. The National Chairman will not be part of any plan that will lead to loss of innocent lives.

Babatope, Onovo, Okorie carpet Oyegun

A former Minister of Transportation and member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said; “I have no feelings about what people who are already possessed about destroying Nigeria’s community are saying. I don’t have anything at all. They should go ahead and God Almighty will catch them. The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, said the statement is very disappointing because Oyegun is advanced in age.

“He is in his 70s. He has been a governor and he is now chairman of a ruling party. So, one expect him to show maturity in dealing with issues no matter the interest that he is trying to protect.

“There is no doubt that as a ruling party chairman, he will want his party to win every election because of the 2019 election that is coming ahead but that shouldn’t make him to lose every sense of decency to make statements that are very inciting and unbecoming of somebody of his statues. “I expect him to recant on those statements. It is something that is very unfortunate. He must be careful of any statement that comes out of his mouth because any statement that comes out of his mouth would be giving full analysis as a statement coming out of a party. He shouldn’t be reckless in his statement.

Also, the National Conscience Party (NCP) presidential candidate during 2015 presidential election, Chief Martins Onovo, said, it shows that the APC is promoting violence and mayhem in the country. “That is very clear.

We have being accusing them previously of promoting violence and killings of some members of IPOB and Shittees, which Amnesty International have called for an enquiry. “What Oyegun said as far as we are concern is a confirmation of what we have been saying because we have previously accused them of violence. Oyegun has made it clear that the purpose of federal might is to cause mayhem.

Why should a national chairman of a party make that kind of statement?” He queried. The presidential candidate of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Chief Ambrose Owuru, has called for peaceful and orderly conduct, urging his people to desist from any act that will breach the peace. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Owuru, while speaking in Port Harcourt, said it would be counterproductive for political parties to indulge in violence and irregularities in a bid to win elections.

Army deploys troops to flash points

The Nigerian Army has deployed troops to flash points across the state to prevent the breakdown of law and order during and after the election. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Port Harcourt, Maj.-Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, disclosed this yesterday when he addressed officers and soldiers at the divisional headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He said that the army would gather information and carry out a show of force within strategic towns in Rivers and adjoining states, adding that troops would also be deployed to oil and gas installations and other key assets. Abdulkarim noted that commanders would collaborate with civil authority, Nigerian Police Force, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders in achieving peaceful election.

He disclosed that “local commanders” were expected to escort the election materials to INEC office in Port Harcourt, adding that troops would also identify and curtail hostile individuals, groups and key players.