US Envoy Calls for End to Electoral Violence in Rivers …Wike vows to seek justice for the slain

The United States Consul-General to Nigeria, John Bray, has called for an end to the violence and deaths in the presidential and National Assembly elections in Rivers State.

This is as the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, vowed to seek justice for families of the slain electorate, accusing security agencies of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to kill the people in their quest for votes.

 Addressing journalists at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday after a meeting with Rivers State Wike, the diplomat decried the violence that greeted the polls in some parts of the state.

Violence trailed elections in the state with the Nigerian Army confirming the death of a lieutenant and six others at Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area, while the police confirmed two other deaths in Andoni.

The APC earlier alleged killing of four persons in Andoni while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were killed in Abonnema.

The party also said the military killed two PDP sgents in Emohua Local Government Area on Saturday. 

 The American Envoy told journalists: "I am here as an international observer.  We have been watching elections in Rivers State.

"I am not here to grade elections or anything like that. I am just here to say that there has been enough violence.

"Enough people have died. I am here today to speak with all the different candidates and party leaders."

 Meanwhile, addressing journalists later in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Governor, Wike, declared that the state government would pursue justice for all those murdered in cold blood by  soldiers of the Nigerian Army, allegedly recruited by the APC to unleash mayhem on PDP members  in Abonnema and other towns  during Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The governor said all those involved in the cold blooded murder of innocent Rivers people to feather the Presidential Ambition  of their benefactor would not go unpunished.

He particularly berated the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi; the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army , Major General Jamil Sarham; and the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARs) Commander; Akin Fakorede,  for their roles in the murder of Rivers people  during the elections.

He said: "Let it be known that those who masterminded the murderous assault on Abonnema and other communities in Rivers State last Saturday have bloodstains on their hands, for which they are all answerable before the Almighty God.

     "I wish to assure all and sundry that we shall as a government pursue justice for the families of the victims against the perpetrators of the mayhem, killings and destructions in Abonema, Buguma, Degema and other places no matter how powerful they may seem and how long it may take".

 Wike  called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately direct the army to pull out of Abonnema, so that the people can resume their normal lives.

"I call on Mr. President to please, in the name of God direct the army to withdraw the occupation and siege on Abonnema and Bonny communities so that the people can go about with their normal lives", he said.

He wondered why the Minister of Transportation would connive with  the Nigerian Army  to spill the blood of Rivers people just for the purpose of political relevance.

"But, like all well meaning Nigerians, I dare to ask: does the ambition of Mr. President to cling on to power warrant the gruesome and coldblooded murder of innocent souls in Rivers State by the Minister of Transportation and his armed gangs?

"Must the Minister of Transportation shed innocent blood, desecrate the land of Abonnema and humiliate our people in pursuit of the re-election of our President?

"Are the people of  Abonnema and indeed, kalabari happy with the occupation of their land and the way it was turned to a minefield of killings and destruction by the army on account of someone’s ambition to remain relevant in national politics and hopefully be re-appointed?" he said.

He berated prominent Kalabari sons whom he said  collaborated with the Minister of Transportation to kill their own people because of electoral success.

 He asked: "Are the APC leaders of Kalabari, especial Mr. Tonye Cole, Prince Tonye Princewill and Professor Charles Dokubo pleased with the killings and destruction in Abonnema and other parts of kalabari by the army?

"Can they in all conscience defend and or be happy to be the among the principal actors with the Transport Minister to inflict such horrendous levels of killings and devastation to their own people and communities just to prove how connected they are to the Federal Government and the nation’s military? What a shame?"