Torrents of condemnation have greeted the shooting of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithful on Wednesday in Ipo, Ikwerre Local Government Area where one person was confirmed dead and six other severely wounded.
Although the Rivers State Government, through the ministry of Information and Communication blamed the shooting on the state chapter of the All Progressive Congress, Magnus Abe, the Senator representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has warned politicians not to plunge Rivers State into the kind of violence and mayhem that characterized the 2015 general elections.
Abe in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday and signed by his spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, condemned in its totality the attack on the political gathering at Ipo in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Senator Abe said any attack on law-abiding citizens anywhere in Rivers State must be condemned by all, describing it as barbaric, insensitive and uncalled for.
According to him “The time has come for politicians in the state to unite and ensure that peace reigns rather than name calling and finger pointing, insisting that, until perpetrators of such heinous crimes are apprehended and brought to justice, peace will continue to elude us as a people.
“We should unite as Rivers people and ensure that perpetrators of these dastardly acts are apprehended and brought to book.
“It is our responsibility as a people to work with the security agencies across party lines to ensure that we maintain law and order.
“We cannot afford to return to the violence and mayhem that characterized the 2015 general elections, and the poisoned atmosphere of bitterness and acrimony that enveloped our state.
“We must create an enabling environment for politicking and ensure that Rivers people of every persuasion can freely promote their preference without violence, intimidation, let or hindrance.
“Anyone however highly placed who acts in defiance of this principle must be ready to answer to Rivers people.” he said.
Abe who is a Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections in the state extended his heartfelt sympathy to the families who were affected by the incident.
“This is the time for us to chat a new narrative for Rivers State anchored on ideas and bold visions that can reclaim our heritage of peace, progress and prosperity,” Abe stated.
