The
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has denied allegations
that its members destroyed the Nigerian and other flags hoisted in
preparations for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state.
Jonathan is expected to be in Port Harcourt on Saturday for the South-south rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP had petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde
Ogunsakin, alleging that supporters of Governor Chibuike Amaechi and
members of the APC destroyed the flags.
But the APC has dismissed the allegations, saying the PDP is bent on causing trouble in the state.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, the state Chairman
of the APC, Chief Davies Ikanya, said: “The attention of the ruling APC
in Rivers State has been drawn to a petition written by Mr. Emma Uche,
on behalf of Prince Timothy Nsirim (sacked Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local
Government Council of Rivers State), titled desecration, abuse, removal
and damage of the Nigerian flag, PDP flag and Obio/Akpor Local
Government flag, by agents of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi's
government and APC members of Rivers State chapter.
“On Monday, Rivers State Commissioner of Police called our attention
to Nsirim's petition, that it was alleged that members of our party went
to somewhere around Rumuigbo Junction (in Obio/Akpor Local Government
Area), to destroy the Nigerian flag and other mentioned flags.
“It is another ploy by the defeated, disjointed and tattered PDP in
Rivers State to cause mayhem in this our state. We all know that since
the exit of (Mbu Joseph) Mbu from Rivers State, the state has been
enjoying extensive peace. All our activities have been conducted in
law-abiding manner. We have not had political issue, since Mbu left.
“This is a surprise to us. We wish to state categorically clear and
unequivocally that no member of the APC did anything like going to
destroy flag of any party, not to talk of that of Nigeria. We have the
Nigerian flags conspicuously displayed at the Rivers state secretariat
of the APC, in our offices and Government House, Port Harcourt.”
Ikanya it was unthinkable that the APC, which according to him is on a
rescue mission, would resort to desecrating the Nigerian flag.
Meanwhile, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Rivers State has
petitioned the state police command alleging that the Chief of Staff,
Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, threatened the life
of its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, on April 22 during a
peaceful protest in Port Harcourt jointly organised by the organisation
and disengaged Risonpalm workers .
In the petition signed by the Chairman, Mr. Sotonye George, and the
Secretary, Rev. Sunny Johnson, and received by the police on April 25,
the CLO alleged that Okocha had said Wechie was a marked person.
In his reaction, Okocha said the allegations were borne out of mischief and denied threatening Wechie
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