By Douglas Blessing
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has urged the federal government and the Nigerian Police on the security of the state, expressed worries over alleged kidnapping of its members.
The APC leadership expressed worries that the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police have not shown much concern on defending voters in the state.
The party spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, revealed that two of its Chieftains have again been abducted, Thursday, afternoon, by armed men in police uniform.
It would be recalled that the Secretary of APC in Ikwerre LGA, was Wednesday night reportedly kidnapped.
Nwauju regretted that Rivers State has a bad history of political violence, which he said led to the APC losing over 500 of its members in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA in 2015.
He noted that if the federal government and the police did not step up in providing adequate security for the Saturday’s polls, that the party would have no option than to advise its followers and voters to defend themselves.
He said: “We have uncovered plots by the state government and PDP to get thugs dressed in military uniforms to harass and intimidate voters, especially, in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor LGAs.
“We make bold to say that we have a history that has violence and killing which we can recall of killing of over 500 of our members in ONELGA.
“We want to put it on record that the secuity operatives in Rivers State proactive. President Muhammadu Buhari should take not that the lives of Rivers people are not safe. On the 18th, Saturday, the Federal Government of Nigeria should tell the people of Rivers State especially members of the APC if they should take the laws into their hands by defending themselves.
“Or should we still believe that security agencies, especially the police will be able to secure lives and property of the people particularly those in opposition
He alleged that security architecture of the state has been compromised, wondering why security is being compromised in a state that is strategic to the economic development of the nation.
He added: “We want to warn that the APC will instruct their followers to defend themselves because security agencies have refused bluntly to provide security to the people of the state and the opposition members”.
