Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters got a directive from the party’s leaders yesterday – they should fight back if attacked.
National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi said tomorrow’s rerun is a must win.
They told the supporters to fight back “if their rivals have taken a desperate position to truncate the principle of electing leaders” on the Election Day.
It was all at Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area during the party’s mega rally ahead of the rerun.
APC supporters started trooping into the stadium at 8: 20 am and by 12 pm, the facility had been filled to its capacity.
The supporters who were seated according to their local government areas, chanted APC slogans and hailed its candidates as they walked into the facility.
Ganduje, who is the chairman of the Election Rerun Campaign Committee, urged the supporters not to be afraid of the PDP on election day, but to take cover and fight back
Ganduje said: “If they shoot you, take cover and shoot them back. Our party is formidable to win this election. We want to thank you for being committed to the ideals of the party. In Rivers State, there is no peace, peace is absent, and do you believe in the propaganda going on in the Rivers State Government House?
“I don’t see anything that would make PDP to win the election on Saturday. Don’t be afraid go to the poll and fight back if they fight you. We are going to win this election and I can see that you are committed and ready to vote for APC.”
Odigie-Oyegun called on APC supporters to mobilise themselves and ensure that they vote for all APC candidates.
He said he supported what he described as the fire-for-fire approach, “I think I support your slogan; if you shoot me, I will shoot you; if you kill me, I will kill you. Go out there and vote for APC; don’t be afraid of them. You are protected; we have the federal might to protect you.
“We are in Rivers State to inform you that we are ready for the rerun. We came with force; we respect the courage of our members in the state. Our message is simple, ‘enough is enough’. I am very glad with the crowd I saw here today and I know we are going to win the election on Saturday.”
Amaechi, who started the opening prayer with praise and worship, said: “Lord I know we don’t have the strength and power of our own to defeat PDP on December 10. Please help us to let PDP in Rivers State know that we are not killers.”
When Amaechi was invited again to give his speech, the minister, who the supporters described as “the Lion of Niger Delta” said: “This is an election of our lives, Before, I used to tell you; ‘please, don’t fight’. I think I will bend it a bit. What I will tell you is that do not kill anybody, but do not be killed.
“If you allow them shoot you, you will die. So, don’t allow them to shoot you. It is not only them that have the right to life, you too also have the right to life. I don’t want to hear ‘they shot me, they took the result sheet’.
“Anybody, who takes the result sheet, take it back from him. You know I have never spoken like this before. Now, my phones will be off on Saturday; don’t call me. The only time you will call me is from 6pm to tell me how we have won.”
Dr. Davies Ikenya, the APC chairman in the state, while delivering his welcoming address thanked APC governors, senators and other chieftains for coming to Rivers State.
He told the supporters that PDP is full of lies, stressing that APC is not a party that stains its hands with human blood but a peaceful and accommodating party.
No fewer that 12 governors were at the event. They include governors of Ogun, Plateau, Benue, Edo and Sokoto. Ondo State Governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu was there.
There were also Mr. Segun Oni, Chief Don Etiebet, Mr. Timi Alaibe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Senator Magnus Abe, Chief Andrew Uchendu, the 2015 APC Deputy governorship candidate, Asita Honourable Asita, the former Chief of Staff, Hon. Tony Okocha, Chief Andrew Uchendu, Chief Oji Ngofa and others.
Hon. Chimbiko Akarolo and Hon. Lucky Worluh who led the elected APC local government chairmen in the 22 of the 23 local government areas who were sacked immediately Governor Nyesom Wike took over, said the huge crowd was a sign of their commitment to the party.
They noted that the APC supporters at the Stadium had responded to the allegation by the PDP in the state that their supporters had defected to the PDP.
Akarolo, a former mayor of Port Harcourt, said: “Everyday the PDP is making noise that APC members have all defected to their party but the unprecedented crowd at the stadium today will shut up their mouths. APC in Rivers State is peaceful and we will remain peaceful even after the rerun election.
“We don’t want to join issues with anybody; all we know is that we have absolute confidence in the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it will conduct a free, fair and credible election come December 10. Don’t forget our supporters are ready to defend their votes if anything goes otherwise.”
