Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt
Ahead of Saturday’s legislative rerun
in Rivers State, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress,
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has urged members of his party to retaliate
whatever action they get from loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke at the mega
rally of the APC at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on
Thursday, described the rerun as “the beginning of a rescue mission” and
encouraged the people not to be intimidated.
He said, “I am glad with what I am
hearing here today; very glad. If they push you, push them back. If they
slap you, slap them back.”
He expressed his satisfaction with the
turnout at the rally, and urged the people to head to the polling units
in droves on Saturday.
Odigie-Oyegun said,“I am very pleased
with the turnout here today. It shows you are truly ready. As you can
see, we came in force. The whole federal might is here. You have the
governors of this nation here today.”
He added, “We are sending one message,
and that message is clear. It is that we respect you the people of
Rivers State. We respect the courage of our members in this state. We
want to let you know that we have heard your cry; we have seen your
anguish; enough is enough. This is the beginning of a rescue mission.
Also speaking at the rally, the Minister
of Transportation and the APC leader in the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi,
said the poll would be an election of their (APC) lives.
Amaechi, who is a former governor of the
state, called on the APC supporters not to be afraid but to ensure that
their votes were protected.
He stressed that he would not entertain
any excuse on result sheet snatching and advised party faithful in the
state to retrieve any election materials taken away during the exercise.
He said, “This is what is called
election of our lives. You know I have never spoken like this before. Do
not kill anybody; but, don’t allow yourself to be killed. We also have
to protect ourselves.
“I don’t want to hear that they snatched
the result sheet from you. If they snatch it, collect it back from
them. My phone will be switched off. Nobody should call me. The only
time you will call me is from 6pm when you have won the election.”
No fewer than 12 APC governors, National Assembly members and other public office-holders attended the rally.
The Chairman of the APC Election
Campaign Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Ganduje, urged the APC supporters in
the state to take cover whenever they were shot at.
The Kano State Governor urged the APC
supporters in the state not to hesitate to shoot back at their attackers
during the election.
But the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, disagreed with Ganduje over his comments on the election.
Wike, who spoke through his Commissioner
for Information, Dr. Austin Tam-George, said Ganduje’s call on the APC
supporters to take cover and shoot was a way of inciting violence in the
state.
“This is a shameful and egregious invitation to violence by the Kano State Governor,” Wike said.
Comments
Post a Comment