The Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has frowned at the alleged frequent attacks, intimidation, harassment, torture and arrest of its members in the state by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party accused the central government of deploying security agencies to destabilise the peace of the state ahead of the 2019 general election.
The PDP raised the alarm in a statement by its chairman, Cleopas Moses, and secretary, Godspower Keku, in reaction to Thursday’s alleged attack of its members in Brass Local Government Area by APC-sponsored elements.
The party equally said the police invasion on same day of the homes of the interim Brass Council chairman, Victor Isaiah, and that of Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe, who recently defected to the party from the opposition party in the state, was part of the plot to hound and arrest its members on trumped-up charges.
It said Nigerians should hold the government of President Buhari responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Bayelsa.
It also said former Governor Timipre Sylva and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri, were indicted in a confessional statement by a notorious kidnap kingpin, the late Peregbakumo Oyawerikumo (alias General Karowei) but that the security agencies looked the other way because APC members were involved in his criminal activities.
“By shielding individuals with criminal records because of political affiliation, the APC-led federal government has shown it does not have the capacity to protect citizens of our state, the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta region where the biggest chunk of the country’s wealth is generated. In saner climes, characters like Sylva, Lokpobiri and Sunny-Goli would not be walking free on account of their unwholesome activities in our state,” they said.
The party, however, said despite the flagrant abuse of power and the provocation by agents of state security, it will continue to urge its members to remain law-abiding and be the good citizens that they are.
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