Except there is an early intervention, Rivers State may possibly witness a bloody political clash similar to what transpired in the days of cult crisis that rocked the peace of the state in 2005/2006 when the entire Port Harcourt city and beyond were turned into theatre of war by politicians.
Our findings revealed that politicians from both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have started employing the services of ex-militants and cultists with a view to win the forthcoming 2015 general elections.
While a good number of the militants maybe well disposed to the PDP politicians, it is not very clear who among the ex-militant generals are in the camp of the APC.
Last week, when Okrika people staged a peaceful protest in support of the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, at the national field, Okrika, the protesters had to match to Ateke Tom, leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) who promised to take their demands to the President.
It will be recalled that between 2004 and 2006 when militancy and cult crisis rocked the state under Governor Peter Odili, it was Ateke and Alhaji Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, (NDPVF) that were at the centre of bloody crisis.
While Ateke was seen as the supporter of Governor Odili administration, Asari was said to be fighting against corruption and election rigging.
In November last year, some group of boys who were said to be loyal to the former militant leader, Egberipapa, also a staunch PDP supporter in the state, were alleged to have fought against a council chairman who is a supporter of Governor, Rotimi Amaechi in Buguma area of the state.
In the fight that ensued, the cultists were said to have killed more than five people, a situation that caused a stampede in the local government area.
An unconfirmed report also has it that some boys suspected to be cultists were said to have stormed a local government chairman’s office in one of the Kalabari local government areas and compelled the council chairman at gun point to remove the APC flag hoisted in the council headquarters.
Also the sporadic shoot-outs that disrupted the APC planned rally at Bori the headquarters of Khana Local Government Area last Saturday by suspected cultists, was a clear indication that politicians in the state must have concluded every necessary arrangement to engage the “boys” to rig elections in their favour as was the case in the years past.
For sometimes now, there has been shooting in some areas of Port Harcourt particularly in Borikiri and Abonnema Wharf. These settlements are known for shielding notorious cultists and ex-militants.
It will be recalled Amaechi had lamented the increase in arms build-up in the state.
Few weeks after the lamentation, four youths were held with guns and other dangerous weapons at Ogu Bolo. APC alleged that those arrested by the Police were aides to Hon Evans Bipi, member of the state House of Assembly and Senator George Sekibo.
Already fear has gripped residents of the state that the way politicians were going about their game it is likely going to end in another outbreak of cult crisis.
Attempt to get the Rivers State Commissioner of Information, Ibim Simtari to respond proved abortive as she did not pick her calls or respond to text message sent to her mobile phones.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Administration, PDP in Rivers State, Emeka Woke said that he has heard of arms buildup by some politicians but quickly added that “they will never succeed in destabilising the state.
“Any politician that wants to contest election should go and sell his programmes to the people and not to arm them for selfish interest.
“I have heard all that I condemning it in strong term. Any politician who tries to cause violence during the election will definitely fail. We have seen 14 years of democracy in this country and I don’t see anybody taking us backward again,” he warned.
On his part, the Rivers State chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Hon Austin Yong, posited that every year preceding an election year is always characterised by arms stockpiling.
“The country is a running in a circle. Every year preceding an election year in Rivers State is always characterised with arms build up. The situation now will be worse because we now have two political parties that are trying to outdo each other,” Yong said.
He urged the people to checkmate the excesses of politicians who want to forment trouble in the state.
Meanwhile, a faction of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on Governor Amaechi to shelve the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) rally scheduled for Bori, Ogoniland today.
In a statement released by the Kingdom Coordinators Forum, signed by the chairman of the forum, Fank N. Jonah, MOSOP expressed worry about a possible breakdown of law and order in Ogoni Land should the rally go on as scheduled.
“We are deeply concerned about the security situation in Ogoniland as the APC, Save Rivers Movement and supporters of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi plan another rally for Saturday, January 25, 2014.
“We are concerned that barely one week after a similar rally led to the shooting of two Ogoni youths, the Rivers State authorities are
insisting on another rally in Bori, Ogoniland. We see this action as very provocative with intension to do harm to the Ogoni community and urge the Rivers State Governor to shelve the planned rally for a safer time in future as it is obvious that the rally will lead to security breaches.
On Sunday, January 19, 2014, a similar rally organised by the Save Rivers Movement, a political group sympathetic to the Rivers State governor and his party held a rally in Bori, Ogoni. The occasion ended violently leading to the shooting of two persons who are still in critical conditions.
Also in a separate statements former MOSOP President, Ledum Mitee and Vice President, World Youth Assembly, Marvin Yobana, said that because of the tension and apprehension the rally has generated, it would be necessary to shelve it.
They warned that “Ogoniland should not be turned to a theatre of war.”
Source: Daily Independent
