BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The ongoing #EndBadGovernance and hardship protest took a different dimension in Rivers State on Tuesday as protesters marched in their numbers to the Port Harcourt residence of immediate past Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a video that has gone viral, the protesters were seen carrying placards with various inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs.
The group marched from Agip Junction and gathered in front of Wike’s residence, singing the old national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots.” But with fully-armed police personnel forming a barrier, the protesters were kept at a distance and prevented them from approaching the palatial mansion.
Blocked from getting close to the property by an Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed nearby, the protesters made themselves comfortable sitting on the tarred road leading into the residence.
However, no untoward incident was recorded as the protesters conducted themselves in a peaceful manner with the battle-ready security operatives maintaining a close watch on their activities.
About 50 minutes later, the protesters dispersed and continued their march, even as they caused a stir when passing by the Hyper City Mall, belonging to the former governor
Commenting on the development, Spokesperson for the State police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said no property belonging to Wike was attacked.
“The protesters only marched past the building. The police ensured they remained on the other side of the road and did not confront them”, she said
Hoodlums Attack APC Secretariat
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital was on Tuesday attacked and vandalized by suspected hoodlums
Amid reports of widespread hijacking of the hunger protest meant to express dissatisfaction over the nation’s economic challenges, it was gathered that the hoodlums allegedly invaded the party’s secretariat located along Port Harcourt-Aba road.
In the process, they pulled down the giant billboard, vandalized the entrance gate and canopies providing shelter to security operatives, before they were repelled by security operatives.
The APC’s Caretaker Committee Chairman in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, who spoke to journalists, condemned the incident, saying there are evidence to suspect that the attack was sponsored by vested interests afraid of the party’s rising profile in the state.
Further alleging that the attack was pre-determined and targeted at President Bola Tinubu to make Rivers State the protest’s epicentre, Okocha said; “Today, the issue on point is the vandalization of the APC Secretariat situated at Port Harcourt-Aba Express Road in Port Harcourt by hoodlums who were sponsored by a source we have identified.
“We are not scared to name the source because the situation has become very political. Of course why is that it’s only APC that was isolated for destruction.
“But the million of those attacks will not stop us in APC from speaking for the people of Rivers State. it will not stop us from being diametrically opposed to a government that is clueless. It can’t stop us. When the Rivers State House of Assembly was pulled down, it did not stop the Assembly from sitting.
“I am aware and we were briefed that there are plans to make Rivers State the epicentre of protest for obvious reasons. One reason is that they need to get to Mr President as he does not seem to be supporting them.”
The APC Chairman urged the Rivers State Police Command to beef up security around and within the Secretariat to stop further destruction of the Party’s property
