The Council of Ogoni Professionals (COP International USA) has critized in strongest terms the aftermath of the Presidential and the National Assembly Elections held on Saturday February 23, 2019, which resulted in “the killings, of unarmed and defenceless civilians in Ogoni communities and other parts of Rivers State.
Accusing the duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for complicity in the killings the body, in a release signed by Anslem D. John Miller which read in part states thus: “Without mincing words, we hold the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari responsible because without giving a blanket check to Nigerian soldiers to carry out extra-judicial killings by shooting at sight any individuals who attempted to snatch ballot boxes, such reckless wastage of human lives would not have taken place”.
The group which expressed its abhorrence for ballot box snatching and mayhem in any election, lamented that, “the bulk of snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral documents were carried out by the soldiers deployed in unprecedented numbers in Rivers State”.
It alleged that, the soldiers, “having been given the license to kill with impunity, the soldiers had no choice than to carry out such orders, which they are characteristically known for over the years- committing human rights abuses”.
Similarly, the group blamed the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the killings in different parts of the state and other atrocities that took place on the day of the elections.
COP International, USA made reference to the Amaechi’s statements during the South-South Presidential Campaign of the ruling party held in Port Harcourt where he allegedly stated that he would “unleash hell” in Rivers State. The group alleged that the Minister also chanted war song in the presence of Mr. President.
According to the group all these were brought to the attention of President Buhari at a reception organized after the rally by the Rivers State government. It expressed regrets that the threats made by Amaechi was casually dismissed by Mr. President, “yet the initiator was dead serious and determined to carry out his threats to the letter”.
While COP International, USA commiserated with the families of the dead and prayed for the repose of their souls, assured the perpetrators that the blood of the innocent will not go in vain. It promised as the apex organization of all Ogoni Professional in the US and North America, not to leave any stone unturned in seeking justice for the departed souls and their families.
But it called for calm among Ogoni sons and daughters and other citizens of Rivers State even in the face of provocation “by marauding soldiers”.
The organization called on Ogoni indigenes and the entire Rivers people not to be deterred but “defy the antics of President Buhari, Amaechi and their cohorts,” saying they should go ahead and vote for their preferred candidates as “a mark of honour and respect for your beloved ones who have paid the ultimate prize”.
