A former Senator, Magnus Ngei Abe, has blasted supporters and loyalists of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi for threatening to unleash violence on Rivers State in a viral video.
Abe, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said security agencies should be allowed to arrest and prosecute the pro-Amaechi supporters in APC.
Abe, in a statement, said the country could not continue to tolerate lawlessness, rascality and impunity, describing the development in Rivers APC as trying.
He said: “Nigerians must be prepared to put in the hard work and sacrifice that is required to build Nigeria and we must condemn the unacceptable with one voice.
“These are trying times for our party, particularly in Rivers State, anyone with a contrary opinion is being labeled as an agent of the PDP, and yet every action of the APC leader including this sponsored threats of needless violence, and our refusal to punish those who openly defy the law are the actions that set our party against Rivers people and promotes the interest of PDP.
“Those promoting hatred and violence in our society should be punished, the security agencies must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities to our nation without let or hindrance. We should not just lead, we must lead by example.
“About the 21st day of June, 2020, Nigerians woke up to a bizarre video of some young men, not just beating war drums but threatening to burn down Rivers State, destroy all federal agencies, and burn down all multinational oil companies in Rivers State.
“They threatened my life and that of Hon. Igo Aguma, Chairman of the APC in Rivers State. They denigrated and abused the judges of the Rivers State Judiciary describing them as ‘Nyesom Wike’s private company’, and openly intimidated and overawed the judiciary.
“They called the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari by name and warned him that he would not be able to intervene in the mayhem they would unleash on this nation.
“They ended by saying, ‘whoever will sympathize with anybody should start now, President Muhammadu Buhari should talk to the Chief of Army Staff now, should talk to the Inspector-General of Police now, should talk to DSS now, should talk to the Chief Justice of the Federation now, to caution the Rivers State Judiciary, now that it has not happened, because if it happens we will destroy everything in Rivers State, and we will be ready to face the consequences and nothing will happen’.
“These threats were broadcast to the entire nation. It is particularly painful that it was done in the name of a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of Transportation.
“As if that was not enough, the minister himself appeared on national television to say that he knew them and he could understand their pain and their frustration.
“It is sad that till date nothing has been done to deter these young men from their inglorious cause. Perhaps the security agencies following the minister’s example can also understand their pain and their frustration.
“To date, no security agency in this country has issued any public response to this open challenge to the sovereignty of our country, and the independence of our most revered institutions.
“Not even to say, “we are investigating the matter”, even after Hon. Igo Aguma delivered a written petition to the security agencies.
“This is not unusual, in 2018 the same supporters of the minister physically attacked and shut down the Rivers State Judiciary with arms in broad daylight to prevent the hearing of a case filed by members of the APC who were denied participation in the ward congresses of the party.
“Despite the fact that viral videos of the attack fully showing the faces of these individuals who carried arms against the judiciary, no official investigation was ever carried out neither did the law enforcement agencies make any official comment on that incident.
“Again in 2018, following the pronouncement of the courts, the state offices of the APC at Waterlines junction, the busiest intersection in the heart of Port Harcourt was attacked in broad daylight, automatic gunfire and dynamites rained for close to two hours with police units on standby, nothing happened, no official response was ever made by our security agencies”.
The senator urged all Nigerians to reflect on recent history when in 2007 the Supreme Court removed Celestine Omehia as Governor and replaced him with Rotimi Amaechi who took office without a single act of violence from Omehia’s supporters.
He also recalled that recently Comrade Adams Oshiomole was removed from his exalted position as National Chairman of the APC by an interim order of the FCT High Court and heavens did not fall despite the pain and frustration of those affected by the interim order.
He said: “It is indeed painful that the only intervention thus far to the threats and intimidation of the judiciary has been the hasty intervention of the Court of Appeal”.
Abe wondered why a case before the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal was suddenly transferred to Abuja, with hearing notices fixed even before the arrival of the files from Port Harcourt.
He said: “What is rather troubling is the extraordinary steps being taken by the Court of Appeal in respect of the particular matter which the hoodlums threatened.
“Nigerians are forced to question if threats and intimidation of the system is actually more effective than the path of peace and respect for law and order that has been the true hallmark of the Buhari Presidency. Promoters of violence in our society must be punished”.