By Musa Adamu
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has alleged that Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has concluded plans to import to Edo state, his Rivers State model of violence and intimidation, warning that it will not watch helplessly and allow Governor Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turn the state into a killing field in an attempt to foist an unpopular candidate to power.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, APC said the security agencies should take serious note of the plans by the PDP, adding that the governor had threatened last Saturday to do everything that needed to be done to ensure that PDP wins the state.
While condemning the Saturday violence at the PDP’s Edo State Governorship Campaign flagoff, APC said PDP in Edo State is not campaigning for votes but relying on brute force, violence and intimidation ahead of the governorship election.
According to the statement, “The disturbing images and reports of the destruction of property and violence meted on hapless victims during Saturday’s campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo State governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki in Benin City, the state capital is a glimpse into the “do or die” plot the PDP plans to unleash in the lead up to the September 19 Governorship Election.
“To imagine that the PDP chose to desecrate the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II is despicable, unheard of and a new low even by PDP’s ignoble standards. Why is a show of force needed on citizens you wish to govern?
“The PDP in Edo State is not campaigning for votes but relying on brute force, violence and intimidation ahead of the governorship election. The Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike promised on Saturday to “make sure that everything needed is done” to foist the PDP governorship candidate on the good people of Edo State.
“Wike is bent on importing to Edo State his Rivers State model of violence and intimidation. He will not succeed! We definately will not watch helplessly and allow the PDP and Wike turn Edo state into a killing field in their attempt to foist an unpopular candidate.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) strongly condemns the violence and calls on our security services to fish out the perpetrators and their sponsors.
“During the entire Edo State governorship electioneering process, we stand with the good people of state in rejecting all forms of political violence as was unleashed on Saturday by the so called “Obaseki Boys” and PDP supporters on hapless victims”.
APC therefore reiterated its stand that the people’s will and votes will determine the Edo State governorship election, and not voter intimidation and election violence
