Yeghe, Gokana crisis: PDP is to blame, Senator Abe insists

Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State should be held responsible for the crisis that engulfed Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area that led to hoodlums burning down his Senatorial Liaison Office in Bori, Khana Local Government Area.

Senator Abe, in a statement he personally endorsed accused the PDP of deliberately inciting the people against him and the APC, stressing that even Governor Nyesome Wike as chief security officer of the state did not show a good example.

While warning that politics should not be played with the incident since the victims of the crisis could have been people from any of the political parties, he repeated his appeal to his people to remain calm, even in the face of provocation, and eschew violence and lawlessness.

Full text of the statement reads:

It is important that I make this statement with regard to the crisis arising from the military’s attempt to effect the arrest of Solomon Ndigbara, at Yeghe community in Gokana Local Government Area, which led to the hoodlums burning down my Senatorial Liaison Office in Bori, Khana Local Government Area.

I am happy that Governor Nyesome Wike as the chief security officer knew and approved the military operations in Yeghe, Ogoniland.

There is nothing wrong if he, as the chief security officer and after appraising the situation in Ogoni approves that the military should raid the area of criminal elements and maybe recovers arms.

But, the person who stands to be blamed squarely for the crisis is Solomon Ndigbara and his group, who chose to engage the military in a shootout.

However, information available to me points to the fact that there was a deliberate attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to incite the people against my person and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

PDP knows pretty well that we are innocent but in their desperate attempt to exploit the situation for their political gain, they want to hang it on us.

It is sad that this type of politics is being played by people who hold responsible positions.

It is unfortunate that the governor visited the home of ex-militant leader Solomon Ndigbara in Yeghe community but did not deem it fit to visit my burnt Senatorial Liaison office building at Bori, which is less than two kilometres away from Yeghe.

Yet, this is the chief security officer, who visited areas affected by the crisis.

As leaders, we should be sincere to ourselves and show good examples to our followers.

To my people-the Ogoni, we should eschew violence and lawlessness and ensure that we maintain peace.

We should not play politics with the incident because the victims of the crisis could have been people from any of the political parties and religion.

The sad reality of the destruction of my Liaison office shows that all is not well and could discourage prospective investors to invest in the area.

I, therefore, reiterate the call for my supporters to remain calm in the face of provocation.

Signed:

SENATOR MAGNUS NGEI ABE
February 24, 2016