…We Are Vindicated on Fictitious Shooting of Senator Abe — PDP
The Nigerian Senate has criticised the alleged shooting of Senator Magnus Abe by the Police in Rivers State, in a bid to foil a rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement at the College of Arts and Science, Rumuola, Port Harcourt on Sunday.
According to Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the upper legislative chamber deplored the escalating political violence in Rivers State, and urged Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to probe the incident ro prevent recurrences.
“The Senate particularly condemns the Sunday violence which resulted to injuries on a serving Senator, Magnus Abe,” Abaribe said.
“The Senate is disturbed that what should have been a peaceful gathering turned violent resulting in injuries. On this score, the Senate associates itself with the admonition of President Goodluck Jonathan on his pronouncements to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, wherein he warned that no Nigerian blood is worth spilling in the name of politics.
“Consequently, the Senate urges the Inspector General of Police to investigate the latest incident and ensure that it never recurs. In the same vein, the Senate advises politicians and their supporters to exercise greater restraint and avoid acts that will not only overheat the system but may harm the country’s democracy”.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the today’s attack on some sections of the Gokana Council secretariat by angry youths as vindication of its earlier position that the whole story surrounding the alleged shooting of the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe was dramatized and full of fictions.
The party noted, with bitterness, “the level of desperation” on the side of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his allies, claiming this led them to hire thugs to cause obstructions to movement and activities along the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road early today in a quest to draw attention to the alleged shooting of the Senator yesterday in Port Harcourt.
“The PDP is vindicated as the thugs who were promised N10,000 each on completion of their assignment on the road, by their employers, were disappointed with the payment of N1000 each — an action that ignited the youths to vent their anger on the Gokana Council secretariat building, leading to the looting and massive damage of some sections of the building and vehicles parked around the vicinity”, Jerry Needam, the media aide to the state party chairman wrote in a statement.
“The thugs, also in a bid to get the N10,000 each as promised, are on the trail of the Gokana council chairman, Mr Ledee Demua Ledee and the state commissioner of Works, Chief Victor Giadom, who the hoodlums said engaged them.
“In like manner, the Peoples Democratic Party today welcomes the resignation of Rivers State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Stanley Marshall Uwom from the Governor Amaechi’s Executive Council”.
The party further expressed its belief that it is only men without courage and those who prefer to continue to act irresponsibly who will allow themselves to be tossed around by Governor Amaechi.
“In no distant time, the governor will be left alone to hide his face in shame”, it said.
