Persons attached to the governor of River State who were formerly incarcerated due to one electoral offense or the other have walked free without prosecution in a move that has angered the opposition party in the oil rich state.
Wike’s Special Assistant on Special Projects, Mr. Cyril Dum Wite being arrested
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers state chapter, is left shocked and dumbfounded at the hurried release by security agencies of aides of Governor Nyesom Wike arrested for malpractice and violence during the State and National Assembly rerun elections in the State.
The party is surprised at the speed with which Wike’s aides arrested for attempting to assassinate the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; the Rivers State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya; and the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2015 elections, Hon. Asita O. Asita, were allowed to go home and continue with their normal businesses.
“We are shocked and left speechless by the speed with which the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, Wike’s Special Assistant on Special Projects, Mr. Cyril Dum Wite, and Wike’s Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, were released and allowed to go home despite the overwhelming evidence against them,” the Rivers State APC said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Davies Ikanya.
During the election, Kobani was caught red-handed aiding rigging during the March 19 rerun polls, while Wite was caught with N40 million, arms, Police and Army uniforms in his car.
The APC stated that it recalled that the next day, gunmen operating in two jeeps belonging to Woke opened fire on a vehicle conveying Peterside, Ikanya and Asita, who were on their way from Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
“Our hopes were initially raised when Wike’s implicated aides were arrested for questioning as we thought that justice would be made to take its course. We are disappointed that these men have been hastily released and left off the hook instead of being vigorously investigated and charged before courts of competent jurisdiction. This is sad and unfortunate,” the Rivers State APC said in the statement.
The party challenged security agencies in the State to conduct their activities with fairness and transparency. They also advised them not to allow themselves to be bought by Governor Wike in his desperation to completely conquer and possess Rivers State by hook or by crook.
It described the rerun elections as a violence-ridden sham and demanded its total cancellation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
The Rivers State APC also appealed to its members and supporters not to be demoralised by the turn of events but to remain steadfast in their support for the party, knowing that those with God are in the majority and that evil will never outshine good.