The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has dedicated its
victories at the election petitions tribunal to the memories of the 99
persons killed during the last elections. Its governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, spoke yesterday at the
new Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Port Harcourt, the state
capital, during a meeting with stakeholders. Peterside accused Governor Nyesom Wike of mortgaging the state’s
future by taking huge loans in five months and patching only 10
kilometres of road.
He said security had deteriorated in the state in the last five months.
The meeting was attended by Peterside’s running mate, Honourable
Asita; APC State Chairman Davies Ikanya; Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and a
former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche;
among others.
Wike, a former Minister of State for Education, had said his
administration was prudent, claiming that he was committed to the
state’s development and transformation.
Peterside said: “The APC’s family in Rivers State has recorded a
string of victories at the various tribunals. The tribunal recently
nullified the governorship election.
“The House of Assembly elections’ tribunals also nullified 20 of 32
seats. One was actually thrown out on technical grounds. Two other
National Assembly seats have also been nullified and fresh elections
ordered.
“We thank God for His mercies and all the victories recorded so far.
What the victories mean is that the APC’s family in Rivers State has
been vindicated that no election took place in Rivers State on March 28
and April 11.
“We want to salute the courage of Rivers people, who have been
resilient throughout this period. Who have been faithful to the APC
mission and that is the mission of change. To change the way we do
things and improve the quality of life of our people.
“We dedicate the victories to the memories of the over 99 persons who
lost their lives during the March 28 and April 11 elections.
To prove that we are not making an empty claim, about the fact that
people were killed. I will mention a few names: Chief Christopher Adube,
who was assassinated with six members of his family in
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State.
“Miebaka Opogilia, who was killed in Okrika; Saturday Makama;
Precious Pepple and Corporal Ifeanyi Okoro, who was killed in Okrika,
while on a national assignment.
“They did not die in vain. They laid down their lives for the freedom
and prosperity of Rivers people. I am sure that wherever they are,
their memories will feel some form of relief, that at least, those they
left behind will have the opportunity of choosing the kind of leaders
they want.
The governorship candidate also expressed displeasure about the accumulation of debts, through bank loans, by Wike. Peterside said: “He first obtained a loan of N30 billion and we raised the alarm then that, that was not the way to go. As you all must have noticed, Wike, till date, has not justified a
penny of the first N30 billion he borrowed. In addition to the many
loans he has collected, he has collected revenues from the Federation
Account to the tune of N100 billion in five months, since he has been in
office and yet our schools are not working.”
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