The Chiefs and people of Opobo and Nkoro communities
of Ijaw extraction have decried the spate of attacks on the campaign train of
their son, Amaopusenibo Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and his APC supporters.
In a communique at the end of their meeting, the
people of Opobo and Nkoro expressed their displeasure with the way and manner
their sister community, Okrika has become a no-go-area for the governorship
candidate of the APC.
The people who described Dakuku as a peace-loving and
God-fearing man without penchant for violence filed a letter of complaint to
the people of Okrika who they say have allowed the PDP Governorship candidate,
Nyeso Wike and his campaign train, to visist Okrika even two days earlier
before the incidence that disrupted the APC campaign on January 24, 2015.
They wondered why their son, a fellow Ijaw would not
have access to another Ijaw community.
In a statement made available to The Beam, the group
of Chiefs regretted the series of attacks meted out on the APC, in Okrika and
its neighboring communities which include the bombing of the APC office in Abam
Ama on January 11, 2015, a day to the scheduled visit of Dakuku to the party
secretariat; the invasion of the venue of the APC rally on January 24, 2015, at
the National Grammar School Okrika by yet to be identified armed youths who
destroyed equipment and vehicles worth millions of Naira; the violent
disruption of the APC rally on February 17, 2015 which led to the killing of
one police man, stabbing of the Channels TV reporter and the maiming of scores
of supporters.
The group is worried that Nyesom Wike, the PDP
candidate for the governorship election, an Ikwerre man, is given unfettered
access to Okrika while a fellow Ijaw man in the person of Dakuku is not allowed
access to Okrika without any justifiable reasons.
According to the group, the actions of these
"misguided elements" who do not know the consequences of their actions
may "undermine centuries of cordial relationship between Wakrike-Ijaw,
Opobo-Ibani Ijaw and Nkoro-Ijaw.
They group re-affirmed their oneness as IJAW people
who exist in peace and love and would not allow the antics of dishonest
politicians from distracting the Ijaws on their role in addressing the
fundamental challenges that confront Ijaw land.
Concluding, they called on their Okrika brothers and
sisters to maintain their peaceful disposition and disregard those who may not
be Okrika-Ijaw sons and daughters who are behind these dastardly acts. They
also urged the people of Okrika" to support and vote for Dr. Dakuku
Peterside as his candidature represents equity and justice for mutual
co-existence among the diverse people of Rivers state".
The communique was signed by several Chiefs from the
area including, HRH Alabo Prof. Dagogo Fubara, Prof. Adolphus J. Toby, Prof.
Seth Accra Jaja, HRH Alabo B.E. Jack Tolofari, Alabo (Dr.) Silas J.N. Okansin,
Dame Ibienebo W. Dappa, Alabo P.I.T. Bara, Amaopusenibo Sam Sam Jaja,
Warisenibo Maclean Uranta.
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