More Trouble For Amaechi As First Cousin, Ethnic Leaders Accuse Him Of Intimidation

More troubles from home came the way of the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as his first cousin, Mr. Celestine Omehia led elders of their Ikwere ethnic nationality in Rivers State to accuse him of stirring the security forces against the people in an attempt to disrupt the General Election.

The verbal attack from his tribal people came in the wake of the declaration by the Independent National Election Commission, INEC that Amaechi’s All Progressives Congress, APC will not partake in the elections in the state.

The declaration has potentially put the minister and his supporters in the jeopardy of losing political relevance in the state.

Amaechi is the political leader of the party in the state and has been fighting to quench an internal rebellion mostly fueled by Senator Magnus Abe who lately accused him of fainting after Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was announced as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in 2014.

In the latest salvo, Amaechi’s predecessor as governor Mr. Omehia who is also his first cousin on Thursday led elders of their native Ikwere nationality to protest alleged brutality in the hands of security forces deployed to the state. The security men they claimed were working on the instructions of Amaechi.

Addressing  a press conference  in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Omehia said the Ikwerre people are worried over the failing role of security agencies ahead of the rescheduled General elections 

He said: “We are using this forum as the Leaders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality to call the Minister of Transportation to order. We do not want him to be the proverbial monkey that that was laughing when trees were falling in the forest not knowing that it was his house that was falling.

“We also want to draw your attention to the failing role of security agencies regarding the protection of lives and property before the elections and the likely role they will be playing, during and after the elections judging from our past experiences. It is important to state here that they must divorce themselves from partisanship.

“Unfortunately, recent activities of militarization by the Nigerian Army and Police intimidation by F-SARS show open partisanship and the consequence will be crisis if the people of the State feel shortchanged. This kind of development is not healthy for our democracy. In Ikwerre Local Government Area alone, four deaths were recorded last weekend: two at Ozuaha Community and two at Omagwa Community. A prominent Ikwerre son who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Blessing Didia, narrowly escaped death at Omerelu”

The Ikwerre leaders  said  that the four Ikwerre Local Government Areas have come under serious threat. They said that Ikwerreland is under combined Military and F-SARS siege.

They said: “Also of serious concern to us is the clandestine moves in some quarters to ensure that our people are disenfranchised with the active connivance of the military and the GOC 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Major General Jamil Sarham and the Commander of FSARS, Mr Akin Fakorede.

“Our people are being threatened daily with arrests and other forms of intimidation.

Ikwerre People are Law abiding and we are prepared to exercise our franchise without any form of intimidation and harassment. We urge all our sons and daughters to thread the path of peace and ensure that the forthcoming elections are conducted peacefully throughout Ikwerreland.

“We call on our Traditional Rulers and Leaders of Thought to carry the message of peace to all Ikwerre communities and shun all agents of mischief who may want to instigate violence to massage their political ego”.

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