PDP fingers power-hungry APC politicians in the plan
The Rivers State commissioner for information and communications, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim has that the government had uncovered plans to cause a declaration of state of emergency in the state.
In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, Nsirim said some Abuja-based Rivers State were planning to cause a breakdown of law and order in the state to force the declaration of emergency rule.
He said the plots were hatched since 2015 but added God put paid to such plans.
“They did everything within their powers to ensure that the 2019 Governorship Election results were not announced but also failed.
“As the build up for the 2023 elections and jostle for presidential and vice presidential tickets is gathering momentum, they want to use COVID-19 to create a crisis as if the State is at war with the Federal Government.
“They have decided to create unnecessary tension as if indigenes of Ahoada, Eleme and Port Harcourt are fighting with Northerners not to carry out their legitimate businesses,” said the commissioner.
Nsirim recalled that there have been killings by and herdsmen clashes in some northern states but the citizens of those states have continued to work together irrespective of their political differences.
“Since 2015, there have been farmers/herdsmen clashes in Nasarrawa, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kaduna, Yobe and Bornu States.
“Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, states like Enugu, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Kaduna have been intercepting lorries carrying human beings instead of foodstuffs.
“This is the same thing that the Rivers State government is doing to protect the State from COVID-19.
“Bandits have been killing innocent people in Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states and indigenes of these states, no matter their political differences, are working together to protect their States.
“But here in Rivers State, instead of supporting our efforts, these Abuja politicians are busy looking for a state of emergency because they want to acquire power.
“We are alarmed at these hideous plots against our state. Rivers State has never fought a war with strangers or neighbours.
“Our fight against COVID-19 is to protect the lives of everyone living and doing business in the State. We are aware that some shameless politicians are playing politics with COVID-19.
“No wonder one of the respected chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had to expose their plan to use COVID-19 to launch into the politics of the State.
“This is what we see in the lives of ungodly, dangerous and power hungry people who claim to love the State.
“After their clandestine meetings they have voted huge sums of money to entice and recruit gullible persons to carry out their plan”.
He called on all patriotic Rivers indigenes to be at alert “to resist the devilish plans of unpatriotic elements conniving with enemies of the state to cause confusion”.
“As a state, we have always defeated these sadists, and with God on our side, we shall overcome them,” said the commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has alleged that the plot was being hatched by certain unpatriotic and disgruntled individuals working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to orchestrate a security situation and push for imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan that power-hungry politicians were bent to sponsor their “misguided youths” to unleash violence and unrest in certain parts of the state to create an impression of security breakdown so as to validate their plot for the imposition of emergency rule in the state.
“Such anti-people elements include some individuals who were rejected by the people of Rivers state in the 2019 governorship election, as well as their godfathers, who believe they have the backing of power mongers at the federal level, and now seek to manipulate situations with the COVID-19 pandemic to cause confusion and push their plot to take over the governance of the state through the back door.
“It is clear that the actions of the government of Rivers State under Governor Nyesom Wike in protecting the state against the spread of COVID-19 in the state are targeted at nothing but to protect lives, and such have continued to yield very positive results.
“Nigerians are also not unaware of the politicization of the fight against COVID-19 by the agents of the federal government, who appeared uncomfortable with the management of the pandemic by Rivers State government and other states just because they are controlled by PDP governors.
“It is instructive for those power mongers to note that this is a time of global pandemic when our country needs her unity. “Our party therefore warns those seeking to cause confusion and disaffection to steer clear of Rivers state as they will be firmly resisted.
“More so, our nation is a democracy and as such it is guided by rules,” said the party
“The PDP therefore called on the people of Rivers state to remain calm, alert and united in resisting all attempts by such agents of violence who are seeking to cause trouble in the state.
It also called on security agencies to take note of the development and closely watch the APC and particularly its power-hungry leaders in the state and stop them from their unpatriotic plots.
