Hold AAC/APC Responsible For Further Violence, Militarization, Killings In Rivers – IPAC

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Rivers State, says its attention has been drawn to a press release titled “We reject signals from INEC As contained in its vague memo sneaked into media space by midnight – Rivers AAC” and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Felix Enimini William.

IPAC in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Sir Precious Baritordo Baridoo, said people at home, in diaspora and Rivers State Government, Nigerians at home, in diaspora, and the Federal Government of Nigeria, African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the International Community and lovers of Democracy all over the World should particularly take note of the underlying security implication of the African Action Congress (AAC) statement in the State.

It said the AAC in Rivers State is entitled to its opinion and is free to express whatever her sponsors asked her to say to the press, adding however that IPAC is not trying to trade words or having issue with them.

“But what IPAC will not accept is further unlawful arrest and detention of political opponents, shedding of blood and seeing electoral process as waging war against Rivers people where militarization brought about voters apathy and senseless killings in various hotspots in the Rivers state.

“The ways and manner February 23 and March 9, 2019; elections were conducted in Rivers State brought about a protest in London.

We received the attached mail with great concern.

“Dear Rivers citizens, Greetings to you all. For your Information, in the wake of the ongoing tragedy perpetrated back home in our beloved “Rivers-State*(Nigeria), where the Nigerian Armed forces have been mobilized to terrorize, bully, detain, maim, kill our innocent & unarmed men, while raping our women just for the sake of the citizens wanting to express their fundamental voting rights.

“We the *Concerned Rivers Citizens in Diaspora (UK)* are now embarking on a peaceful protest march here in London on Fri,15th March 2019 @ the Nigerian High Commission, 9 Northumberland Ave, Westminster, London WC2N 5BX. (closest train station:Charing Cross), 12noon* (Pls arrive very early)

“Please ensure this message reaches all Rivers citizens you know ASAP (regardless of where they reside, work or study in the UK) to embark on this protest.

“Remember it is now our clarion call to save our beloved State from the hands of political dictators causing all the loss of lives, properties and desecrating our motherland”.

Here in Rivers State, despite calls from various groups and individuals for the results to be released, families and churches are praying for cessation of political hostilities and sustained peaceful coexistence. And In response to clarion calls, INEC in proffering solutions to the political stalemate has stated that they “Will issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election on Wednesday March 20th 2019”.

IPAC said it was surprised to hear AAC say: “We vehemently reject this and will resist it with everything pint of blood in us.”

This statement, according to the group prompted the question as to what blood again after the bloodletting and untimely death of Michael Abednego with all those that died on February 23 and March 9, 2019; including Dr. Ferry Gberegbe that passed on Saturday.

It said the call by AAC on INEC to stop its ‘collaboration with Gov. Nyesom Wike and the PDP’ is totally out of place, adding that it is merely an expression of frustration in the face of the present reality as expressed by Rivers people who massively voted for Gov. Nyesom Wike in their various polling units.

“AAC Saying that INEC must declare Engr. Biokpomabo Awara their governorship candidate winner of the March 9 governorship election as it was glaring that he was ‘winning until INEC stepped in to halt the process apparently to save Wike from an earth-shaking defeat’ is laughable and could be termed the dream of a Primary 6 pupil directing a University don to declare him/her a first class graduate in Physics when the pupil has not even sat for JAMB.

“IPAC Rivers State is hereby calling on the general public, the International Community and lovers of democracy all over the world to prevail on the African Action Congress AAC and her cohorts to stop further political statements and actions that would likely cause a breach of the peace and they should be held responsible for further politically related deaths in Rivers State”, the statement concluded.