PDP condemns Abe’s call for violence, insists he is desperate

(Nigeria) The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as unfortunate and disappointing, calls by candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Rivers South-East senatorial district, Mr. Magnus Abe, to APC members to kill and conduct themselves violently, saying it was irresponsible, unwarranted and condemnable.

PDP said it was a demonstration of acts of frustration, desperation and gangsterism.

It will be recalled that Abe during a press briefing in his private residence in Port Harcourt, instigated members of the APC to kill, fight and cause trouble in Rivers State, an action that should not be ignored or taken for granted by Rivers people, the International Community and of course, the security agencies.

The PDP in its reaction,  said although, Mr. Abe’s violent disposition had never been in doubt but considering the exulted office he seeks to be voted in and the Saint in recent times he claimed to be, he ought to have stopped engaging in and encouraging violence, even as such is abhorred in any civilized society.

A statement by Rivers PDP on Wednesday, said “The party feels extremely worried over the unrepentant attitude of Mr. Abe, whose desperation to represent those who do not want him to represent them has made him to adopt a do or die approach not only in his pattern of politics but in his entire life activities.

“Mr. Abe has continued to show that he is one politician, who wants to acquire political power by all means, without minding if blood is spilled.

“The directive from Mr. Magnus Ngei Abe to his APC members to take up arms clearly corroborates the position of the people that he (Abe) has been behind all atrocities in the area, and he and the APC should be held responsible for the breakdown of law and order in not only the area but the entire state.

“It will  be recalled that Mr. Abe has been linked to inter and intra communal crises in parts of Ogoni and most political violence in the area.  One of the most recent was the incident in Yeghe, Bori, Bo-ue and Zaapkon communities on March 22 and, 2016, which led to the killing of over 15 innocent persons, including  pregnant women, a Pastor and students.

“It is also on record that preceding the March 19 re-run elections, especially on the March 18, heavily armed APC thugs were brought in and camped in Tai LGA, at the home of one Hycienth Ndike and John  Abie, who are chieftains of the APC, on an assignment to deliver the area to the party. “These thugs, at 2.30a.m., lodged deadly attack on the community, targeting PDP supporters, who were eventually chased out of the community to pave way for massive rigging of the re-run elections in the area. This incident also culminated into the shooting of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Baby Nzuugha, a mother of four children, in their attempt to hijack electoral materials to the home of Mr. Barry Mpigi, another APC chieftain and contestant in the election.    

“Urging the people to resist being incited and used to cause mayhem in the state, and instead ask Mr. Abe to engage his family members in such deadly assignment,  we advise our  members in the area to remain peaceful and law abiding in the face of provocation by Abe and the APC.

“The party also welcomes Mr. Abe’s consideration of withdrawing from the race as contained in his statement, since it is obvious that popular opinion does not favour him as he is not the choice of the people the best option for him is to admit defeat honourably and throw in the towel accordingly if actually he is a man of honour.

“The party again reiterates its call on the security agencies and the International Community to arrest and prosecute Abe accordingly,” the statement added.