RIVERS RERUN: US, Buhari Support Group Condemn Violence

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United States of America has condemned in strong terms the violence that marred the rerun election in some parts of the Rivers State on Saturday saying it leaves much to be desired in the 21^st century.

In a statement by the US Embassy in Abuja, the US government charged all politicians, supporters and stakeholders to always imbibe the democratic culture rather than taking laws into their hands adding that the political interests must be pursued within the ambit of the law and in line with the electoral processes.

“The U.S. Embassy is concerned about reports of violence, including the possible targeting of electoral officials and irregularities during re-run elections in Rivers State on March 19, 2016. We condemn the use of violence and disruptions of the democratic process. We call upon the leadership of Nigeria’s political parties to urge their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.

“We call on those dissatisfied to pursue a resolution of their grievances peacefully in accordance with the rule of law. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was forced to suspend all further actions concerning the court ordered re-run elections in the Rivers State National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats held on Saturday, 19th March 2016”, the statement emphasized.

In a similar vein, the Buhari Media Support Group has condemned the violence that marred the re-run elections in Rivers on Saturday. In a statement signed by the group chairman and Secretary, Muhammed Labbo and Cassidy Madueke respectively in Abuja, the group vehemently criticized the attitudes of political gladiators in the state urging them to learn to always imbibe the civilized culture and norms when conducting themselves in the public essentially to operate within the laws of the land.

It unequivocally called on the Federal Government as well as the security agencies to intervene to avoid further casualties on account of the election in the state. However, the group stated that the provocative statements by the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was barbaric and undemocratic, and capable of generating anarchy in the society.

“Security agencies should rise up to the task and fish out those behind the recent killings in Rivers. They should prosecute them to serve as deterrent to those who are bent on throwing the state into anarchy.

“We appeal to all political parties and politicians in Rivers to conduct themselves and their activities within the ambit of the law. We also condemn the recent provocative statements by Gov. Nyesom Wike and advise him to desist from making further reckless statements’’, the statement said.