Worried by intensive shootings and gun attacks of its supporters on Tuesday by gunmen suspected to be working for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State, the Greater Together Campaign Organisation which is the governorship campaign team of All Progressives Congress, has warned the PDP that its plots to plunge Rivers into chaos would only land it into self-destruction. Already about 8 APC supporters who were shot by suspected PDP gunmen and in critical condition, have been receiving treatment at various hospitals. The attacks took place at Abalama in Asari Toru local government and Kira in Tai local government, respectively.
In a statement by Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Director of Communications, Greater Together Campaign Organisation, APC slammed PDP for resorting to bloodshed and terror against Rivers people, the same people its governorship candidate had been telling he would give “new” life. “If PDP’s “new” means killing and maiming Rivers people; if PDP’s ”new” is unleashing dare-devil gunmen on innocent, free Rivers people, then, our people are in jeopardy”, the statement lamented in part.
While disclosing that those who had bullets lodged in their necks and arms and had been unconscious had been receiving urgent medical attention under the watch of expert hands in Rivers State Government hospitals, Mrs. Semenitari cautioned PDP against shedding the blood of Rivers people. “Was it not their leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, who said that no blood of any Nigerian was worth his ambition?Or, are Rivers people animals which blood should be shed? Why this resort to barbarism and politics of hate”? Mrs. Semenitari asked.
Semenitari challenged the PDP that rather than resort to violence and bestial acts, it should honourably pull out of the 2015 General elections, or, re-build its culture to what is sane and democratically acceptable.
While commiserating with the injured and promising close care and treatment, Mrs. Semenitari, who is also the Rivers state Commissioner of Information and Communications, declared that Rivers State had been handed over to God, vowing that no level of intimidation will return the state to dark days. “The PDP should know that Rivers State and her people have been handed over to God. Nothing, not PDP’s gun-toting style of politics will return Rivers State and her people to the dark days when gunmen and criminal lords held sway”.
Recall that while APC supporters from Asari Toru and Khana local governments, respectively, were on their way to the party’s Presidential Campaign inauguration at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, gunmen opened fire on them leaving many unconscious and in their pool of blood.
Those shot and in critical condition include Aadum Pya-Alu(male), who was shot on the leg; Deemua Beatrice, shot on the back-arm; Sorbari Npebee, shot in the head and neck; Barbe Jack, stomach; and Victory Vinam, shot in the leg. They were from Ward 6 in Khana while the other victim was the driver of the second bus. Another victim, Wisdom Akpogbara, also from Ward 6 Khana, and shot in the head, had by yesterday been moved to a Rivers State-owned hospital where he is receiving medical attention. The 6th person shot in the stomach had also been admitted for better treatment. The 3 whose conditions were worse as they had relapsed into unconsciousness had improved and stabillised after medical doctors had extracted bullets from their bodies.
