Again, Wike, Amaechi Trade Dirty Words; Buhari Warns Against Violence in Rivers Re-run Polls
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has revealed the illegal plot by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and INEC National Commissioner, Mrs. Amina Zakari to swap authentic results from polling units with fake results on March 19, 2016.
Also, Governor Wike declared that any attempt by the Former Governor to move around polling booths on election will be vehemently resisted by the people who will publicly disgrace Amaechi for violating the electoral guidelines.
Speaking during the grand finale of the Rivers East Senatorial District Campaign Rally of PDP at Elele in Ikwerre LGA, Governor Wike said: “All those who plan to swap result sheets, may their souls rest in peace. Nobody will rig in Rivers State.
“Anybody who thinks Amaechi will give them result sheets to swap, should be ready to swap their dead bodies. I have told the REC, you were here before, you can’t play games with me “.
This was after Amaechi had appeared on Channels TV alleging that Wike was a man who harbours cultists and dines and wines with them. Amaechi said Wike’s cabinet was populated by cultists and notorious militants. He described Wike as the man behind the spate of killings in the state. Amaechi also said the police was incapable of restoring order in the state.
But Wike said it is his responsibility to take steps to stop politicians plotting to rig elections in the state with the connivance of INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari. He claimed that the University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor was compelled by Amaechi and APC leadership to draw up a list of INEC ad hoc staff dominated by former APC caretaker committee chairmen and confirmed APC members to organise the rerun elections. He announced the names of the APC leaders on the list of Adhoc staff. He noted that he had written a formal letter with proofs and details to INEC National Chairman, complaining of the issue. The governor said that President Buhari should not allow Amaechi cause crisis in the state because of his personal interest.
In his remarks, National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff stated that the Rivers State is a PDP state where the people are satisfied with the performance of the Governor. Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus described Amaechi as a confirmed thief who stole Rivers monies which he used to finance APC National campaigns. Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah alleged that Former Governor , Rotimi Amaechi, is the Chief sponsor of cultism in the state.
Meantime, President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Malabo condemned recent political violence in Rivers State, saying that the killing of people over political differences was primitive, barbaric and unacceptable.
“We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.
“We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections,” the President said at an interactive meeting with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.
President Buhari said that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections. Noting that some African countries have started allowing their citizens resident abroad to vote in national elections, the President said that he fully empathised with the desire of Nigerians in the diaspora to vote in national elections.
President Buhari pledged that he will therefore do all within his powers to fulfil that desire.
“I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders,” he said
The President also said that establishing a new national airline was not currently on the Federal Government’s list of priorities.