Florence Uwaeme
Less than 24 hours after the home of APC National Assembly candidate for Ikwerre/Emuoha Federal Constituency, Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi, in Omerelu, Rivers State, was burnt by thugs, the campaign trains of the Social Democratic Party SDP Governorship candidate, Senator Magnus Abe and that of All Progressives Congress APC’s Tonye Cole came under attack by political thugs on Monday.
Abe was attacked on Monday afternoon when unknown gunmen attacked his train at Akinima community in Ahoada-West local government area of the state while Cole was attacked at Oyigbo Local Government Area.
Abe and his team had earlier visited Ubeta and other communities in the area before heading to Akinima, which is the headquarters of the local government area, when they came under heavy gun attack.
Speaking on the attack on his train at Akinima, Abe said: “We went there and they went and used two vehicles to block the road so that we cannot get there.
“Nigeria is a democracy and all of us have the right to go to the people and share our ideas with them. If you have ruled the people for seven years, the people should be happy with you.
“If people are not happy with you, it is because you are not doing well. Now, you are sending people’s children to come and block other politicians from talking to the people.”
The SDP governorship candidate, however, did not specifically mention those he was referring to as the culprits.
Cole said the APC train was prevented from using a space they had prepare and obtained permission for use of their rally.
According to him, after the ensuing arguments and associated pandamonium, they took their rally to a portion of the express way to address their supporters.
Cole added that no amount of intimidation would stop him and the APC from taking their message of hope to the people.
He expressed confidence on the chances of the APC winning the election in the state saying that that was the motivation for the party to continue to campaign across the state against all odds.
