Ateke Tom
Former militant leader of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Ateke Tom, has warned Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, his All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, and their supporters to stay away from Okrika.
The APC has said it would return to the community for the rescheduled governorship rally which was truncated last week by violence resulting in the death of a police officer.
Ateke Tom, who gave the warning yesterday, explained his declaration was in tandem with the unanimous decision of Okrika stakeholders which was taken to preserve peace, law and order in the Wakirike nation.
Speaking at the end of stakeholders’ meeting in Okrika, Ateke Tom said: “The people of Okrika have spoken and I am in support of the position that they have taken. My people have spoken: no more political rallies in Okrika. I am in support of their decision.
“Who am I to say no? You want them to kill me? When the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) held their rally there was no problem. But there was violence when the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged their rally in Okrika, there was violence and people were injured and property destroyed.
“A police man we were told was unfortunately killed. So, PDP and APC, there will be no more rallies in Okrika. We don’t want violence in Okrika anymore.
“The people of Okrika want to preserve the exiting peace in Okrika. We don’t want any violence in Okrika. We no longer want any trouble in Okrika. My advice to the youths is to resist the temptation of being lured by politicians to perpetrate violence. Politicians are like that; they will use you and dump you
“Any youth that allows himself to be used for violence in Okrika is on his own. Politicians will use you and dump you when you are in trouble. I am warning our youths to stay out of violence because at the end of the day nobody will be there for them”.
Speaking on behalf of the community at the end of the Okrika stakeholders meeting, at Okrika, an elder of the community, Marcus Omabipi, said the decision to ban the holding of rallies in Okrika was taken to preserve peace and to avoid a further breakdown of law and order in the community.
He added that, “any eligible voter in Okrika is free to vote for any party and candidate of his or her choice.
Continuing, “The whole town commiserates with the family of the policeman who died as a result of the violence that transpired when the APC held its governorship rally on Tuesday, February 24, at the national school field. And because of what happened stakeholders have decided that there should be no more rallies for now in Okrika until further notice.
”The town has spoken and the decision is unanimous. While parties are free to talk on issues, they should refrain from insulting persons and institutions. Okrikans are for peace. We are peace-loving people.
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