By Jimitota Onoyume, Gbenga Oke & Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT—All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, yesterday, alleged that some of its members were attacked in Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Local Government Areas of the state and the Isaac Boro Park area of Port Harcourt, as they embarked on a memorial protest, tagged Rivers Black Day, in memory of about 100 persons allegedly killed during the last general election in the state.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Chris Finebone, made the allegation at a live radio programme in Port Harcourt while the peaceful march was on.

Meanwhile, the chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Rivers State chapter, Mr Felix Obuah, has described the APC rally as illegal, treasonable and a security breach, even as he denied the allegations against his party, saying, “The PDP again, vehemently denies allegations of killings levelled against its members and leaders by the APC. Such allegations are fabricated, misleading and diversionary.”

Black Monday Protest March in Commemoration of the sad and gruesome death of Rivers people during the General elections.

Obuah, while reacting to the procession, said: “We are further disappointed and concerned about the continued show of disrespect for the law and breach of public peace by members of the APC, led by Dakuku Peterside, Magnus Abe, Andrew Uchendu and other leaders of the party in the state.”

Also, Caretaker Committee Chairman, Asari Toru council, Mr Soboma Jackrich said no member of the PDP attacked anybody in his council.

Similarly, Deputy Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state and Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ikwerre council, Mr Sam Wonosike, told Vanguard that it was not true that PDP supporters attacked any APC member in any part of the state, including Ikwerre.

No fewer than 1,000 members of the APC embarked on the memorial march through the busy Aba Road. The peaceful protest caused traffic gridlock for several hours.

Addressing party faithful at the Polo Club, Port Harcourt, where they all converged, governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, called for the implementation of the Prof. Chid Odinkalu Commission of Inquiry report on political killings before and during the last elections  in the state.

He said that victims of the alleged political murder were killed in cold blood because of their preference for the APC.

Rivers Black Day

He said that law enforcement agencies in the state had not been able to bring those behind the killings to book, stressing that it was part of what informed the Rivers Black Day organised by the APC in memory of the victims.

He said:  “Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends were attacked and killed in their homes in cold blood because of their political leanings. Some were attacked and killed while they were on their way to campaign rallies. Our campaign venues were targets of explosive devices and outright attacks by gun- men. These were intimations of more unpleasant scenarios.

“On election days, ordinary citizens who wished to cast their votes as enshrined in the statutes of our land were killed or maimed by trigger-happy and dagger wielding political thugs and mercenaries. In some cases, at polling units, elderly persons were beaten until their hearts literally stopped beating. Our brothers and sisters died because some politicians who were consumed with vaulting and inordinate ambition engaged in horse trading. More than 100 innocent persons were killed, victims of the evil acts of desperate politicians. You have heard chilling stories from their families, but for the sensitivity of our sensibilities, I will not recant that narrative here. Unfortunately, till date not a single person has been prosecuted for these crimes against humanity.

“We are here to commemorate the memories of these victims of political violence. For us, they were not just victims but martyrs. They constitute the strong breed who have taken our collective burden to ensure the survival of democracy, particularly in Rivers State and Nigeria in general.”

Obuah, on his part, said: “The event tagged, Rivers Black Day, organised by APC, which according to them, was to remember those killed during the 2015 general election, is clearly a demonstration of impunity, and disposition to cause crisis, and to incite not only their members but the people of the state against the security commands and constituted authorities in the state.

“The PDP is aware that following recent incidences of violence associated with public demonstrations in the state, the Rivers State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, placed a ban on all forms of public protests. We wonder why despite  the subsisting order, APC leaders still went ahead to organise such  procession in the state. This, to us, is a flagrant disobedience and disregard for the law and state authorities, and should not be taken for granted.”