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Rotimi Amaechi, and Nyesom Wike

The incessant attacks on political party supporters in Rivers State remain a threat to the nations democracy, writes CHUKWUDI AKASIKE

BEFORE the countdown to the forthcoming general elections, indications were clear that Rivers, a state that prides itself as the Treasure Base of the Nation, has been one of the flashpoints for political violence in Nigeria.

The state did not just attain such unenviable status; the division in the Peoples Democratic Party that led to the departure of the governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, to the All Progressives Congress marked the beginning of a polity that was already overcharged.

Since the change of the state PDP executive from the one controlled by Amaechi through Chief Godpower Ake as the chairman to the current Rivers PDP controlled by the former Minister of State for Education and governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, through Chief Felix Obuah as chairman, it has been controversy all the way. The alteration in the leadership of the state PDP sparked controversies that have snowballed into a full blown crisis.

The crisis that hit the PDP in the state had its ripple effects on the State House of Assembly as the legislature became divided along party lines. While 25 members were on the side of the governor who eventually defected to the APC, five lawmakers remained in the PDP. The climax of the division in the House was a fracas that drew the attention of the world to the state. The fight, which took place in July 2015 became bloody when the leader of the House, Mr. Chidi Lloyd was caught on camera hitting a member of the House, Mr. Michael Chinda with a mace.

Today, the House cannot meet inside the assembly complex since the closure of the premises by the police. Apart from that, the bad blood between the opposing camps of lawmakers has created a fertile ground for violence. The majority of the lawmakers are planning a return to the House in the next dispensation, but violence on the campaign grounds appears to be a stumbling block to a hitch-free political rally.

While the general elections have been fixed for March 28 and April 11, 2015, the PDP and the APC in the state have been campaigning and jostling for the soul of the state. But the exercise has not been smooth. Campaigns have been characterised by unprovoked violence against party supporters.

One of the fiercest attacks in Rivers occurred when former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the APC, General Mohammadu Buhari, visited the state to begin his campaign. It was learnt that one person might have been killed and many seriously injured when two groups of armed youths shot at vehicles conveying the APC members from Asari-Toru and Khana Local Government Areas to the inaugural presidential campaign of their candidate. The twin-attack on the convoys of APC supporters was said to have occurred at the same time at about 5.30am as the party faithful made their way to the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.

It was gathered that though nobody died in Khana Local Government Area after the attack along Bori-Saakpenwa Road, some of those who were attacked by the armed youths, alleged that the thugs were working for the PDP.

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