20th April, 2015
Greater Together Campaign Organisation, the campaign outfit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers state, Dakuku Peterside has stated that a South African based observer lied that the governorship election was free and fair.
In a statement by Ibim Semenitari, Director of Communications for the campaign organisation, it faulted recent views expressed in a press briefing, by Mrs. Eno Udensi, President of a South African-based Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, that elections in Rivers State were free and fair, noting that her view have been dismissed and described as an afterthought from a biased observer.
Mrs. Udensi, who, according to media reports, said the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deserved commendation for “job well done”, has been advised to learn to speak the truth at all times at least, not to mislead the younger generation. “We want to advice Mrs. Udensi, who is a known apologist of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, and a guest of PDP Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, that truth at all times, is costlier than cash”.
In a reaction to Udensi’s warped views unashamedly canvassed on behalf of the Pan African Women Observer Group, which monitored the hugely discredited elections in Rivers State, the Greater Together Campaign Organisation, GTCO, berated Mrs. Udensi for selling her value for a pot of porridge. While expressing the hope Mrs. Udensi’s views were personal and not that of the Observer group she led, the campaign outfit noted that even at that, Mrs. Udensi’s position was a deviant and an aberration when compared with other reports turned in by credible observer groups including teams from United States and the European Union, and independent media teams from across the world.
“It was possible Mrs. Udensi was quarantined by her sponsors in an insulated 5-star hotel room, sipping leisurely cups of coffee, when the guns were booming in Akuku Toru and Asari Toru local government areas. It was possible her sponsors sedated her with a lullaby that lured her to sleep on a water bed when armed militia groups sponsored by Peoples Democratic Party went on killing spree in Tai, Etche, Okrika, Port Harcourt City.
“She also must have been in that deep sleep when PDP thugs attacked virtually every Poling Unit in Rivers State and snatched ballot boxes and ballot papers, thumb-printed in private homes, burnt the RAC in Buguma and committed other electoral malfeasances against Rivers people. Had Mrs. Udensi done the job she came to Rivers State last April 11, she would have seen the travesty, the day-robbery and the war unleashed on Rivers people by PDP in criminal collaboration with INEC and security agencies.
The campaign outfit reiterated its earlier rejection of all that took place in Rivers State on April 11. “We insist that what transpired in Rivers State on April 11 was no election in the true meaning of the word. Mrs. Udensi is an enemy of Rivers’ future and wellbeing. By her views, she has revealed her connivance in the questionable conduct of Mrs. Gesila Khan, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the conduct of the elections. It is unfortunate that people like Mrs. Udensi saw no evil in INEC’s betrayal. Until justice was done, Rivers people will continue to demand same and condemn likes of Mrs. Udensi”.