News filtering in from Port Harcourt indicates that there is anxiety and disquiet over a high level plan to murder the Rivers State gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside has been uncovered.
The plan is said to be coordinated by some senior politicians in Rivers State and has the blessing of a highly placed indigene of the state based in Abuja. The act is alleged to be expectedly carried during one of his campaign tours to a famous riverine Local Government Area.
“It is understood that the Police authorities in the state have been instructed to look elsewhere when this happens”, a source alleged . As part of the plan, the Commissioner of Police has already ordered the withdrawal of the special Isreali trained security squad of the Police popularly C4i that has been offering him protection during the campaigns.
Highly informed sources said it was these Special Forces who botched the first attempt on the Opobo born politician during a campaign rally at Okrika Local Government, home of the Nigerian First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. The Commissioner of Police is the state Mr. Dan Bature had ordered that the C4i Police should now report directly to a designated officer in his office.
According eye witness accounts, an unknown gun man targeted APC gubernatorial candidate when the sporadic shooting at venue of the APC rally but a combination of security agents pushed him down and whisked him away from the venue. His escape annoyed his assassins and their sponsors forcing them to begin to consider other options.
Many observers are worried by the series of assassinations and escalating political violence in Rivers State. Already many supporters of APC have been murdered while many more are still being held in Police detention on frivolous charges allegedly in obedience to ‘orders from above’.
