Security On High Alert In Rivers -Amaechi

Governor Chibuike Amaechi has condemned the post-election violence in some parts of the North and vowed that no innocent citizen living or doing business in the state; especially Corps members would be molested or attacked by miscreants for carrying out their patriotic duties.

Governor Amaechi, who made the radio and television broadcast in the early hours of this morning to the people of the state to commemorate Easter, wondered the rationale for shedding of innocent blood.

According to the Amaechi, “those who perpetrated mayhem and shed innocent blood are yet to tell the world why an election that was adjudged free, fair and credible by both international and local observers should attract such dastardly act.

“Despite these acts of violence unleashed on the nation, every patriot who believes in a new Nigeria has accepted that the nation is on the march to greatness because of the kind of transparency that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) exhibited in the conduct of elections within the last two weeks.”

He stated that to underscore the international acceptance of last week’s Presidential Election, “world leaders from Britain, America and France have congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan for a well-earned victory. Our African brothers are not left out of the goodwill we have received as a country as they have also congratulated Nigeria.”

He urged eligible voters to come out on Tuesday, April 26, to the polls to perform the last lap of the electioneering process and vote for the governor and members of the State House of Assembly.

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, he said: “I want to assure all law-abiding citizens that their security is guaranteed as the state government, the armed forces and other security agencies have beefed up security in all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state to ensure that there is no breach of peace.”

On the part of the corps members who have been targets of attacks in the North for their role as INEC ad hoc staff, the governor said: “To our dear corps members who have laboured for this country since the registration of voters exercise, be rest assured that based on the directive given by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we have mad adequate arrangements for your safety as you perform the last lap of this national assignment.

“In fact, security agencies are under specific instruction to ensure that every Youth Corps member is given personal security so that you can discharge your duties credibly. You can be rest assured that they will be proactive in guaranteeing your safety.”

He urged the youths of the state not to allow themselves to be used by those who do not mean well for our nation to subvert the journey to a new dawn.

Amaechi also used the opportunity to thank the state for voting massively for President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP candidates during the National Assembly and Presidential Elections, and pleaded for a repeat performance in Tuesday’s election.

“You will all recall that the state returned the highest number of votes for the president. With this, Rivers people have made a clear statement about which party they support, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.”

The governor also emphasised that “as the Chief Security Officer of the state I will do all within my constitutional powers to protect lives and property. I urge you all to go to the polls next Tuesday without fear and cast your votes for us as we work together to make Rivers State a place where change is visible.”

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt