Wike, Peterside trade accusations of assassination attempt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration, NIMASA, have traded accusations over an alleged assassination attempt on the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This is just as the Chief of Staff to Wike, Emeka Woke, was arrested over his alleged complicity in the attack on Peterside and some leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Port Harcourt.

According to reports, Woke was arrested Sunday night to explain his role in the attack.

Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the APC in the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State, was reported to be riding in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with his former deputy, Asita Honourable and APC Chairman Davies Ikanya when they came under fire.

According to a statement by Peterside’s Special Assistant (Media), Sylvester Asoya, Peterside and other APC leaders escaped assassins’ bullets by a stroke of luck.

Peterside said: “Two jeeps belonging to Emeka Woke, Nyesom Wike’s Chief of Staff, carrying two unknown gunmen, trailed us to UTC Junction (near Government House, Port Harcourt) and opened fire on my car. Our car, however, did a detour to the DSS (Department of State Services) office gate, where we drove to seek refuge, but the unknown gunmen opened fire again at the DSS men on guard.

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“The exchange of fire between the DSS men and the assailants lasted for more than 30 minutes. This is a very ugly experience, but I thank God that my colleagues and I escaped unhurt.

“Today’s experience is not only terrifying, but also shows the parlous state of security in Rivers State. If I can be engaged openly by gunmen for nearly an hour in the heart of Port Harcourt, only God knows the fate that will befall members of our party and those sympathetic to our predicament. What is happening today in our dear state is not only horrible, but also constitutes serious national security risk”, the statement said.

The state governor, Nyesome Wike has however accused Peterside and Asita of hijacking results from Isiokpo in Ikwere Local government yesterday and killing the Woke’s driver.

The governor made the accusation while speaking with reporters at the Government House last night.

He said: “Remember I warned that today’s Nigeria is not yesterday’s Nigeria. Things that were done wrongly before cannot be done wrongly now. I warned that the people will resist any attempt to rig.

“Now they have the Federal might, army, police, INEC and DSS, but we have the people.

“The driver to my chief of staff has been shot to death this evening, including others who were killed on Election Day. I am surprised to see the kind of desperation displayed by some politicians in this rerun election.

”I saw the military acting as if Rivers State is at war. I saw those working with me being harassed and arrested. My SSG, Commissioner for Environment Prof. Roseline Konya and some PDP members were arrested and manhandled”, Wike said.

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