By: Felix Ikpotor
Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that the Rivers State Government should be held responsible for the death of human-rights lawyer, Ken Atsuwete who was murdered Sunday night in Aluu, Rivers State by yet to be identified gunmen.
The party said information at its disposal points to the fact that the state government and its agents are responsible for the dastardly act.
Peter Odike, Deputy Chairman of the party in the state made the allegation Tuesday while briefing newsmen at the party secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Odike said the party is still in shock at the news of the death of the radical lawyer.
He said: “Yesterday, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, received with shock the assassination of a human rights lawyer and activist, Barr. Ken Atsuwete at his residence”.
“Interrogations with staff of the deceased showed that it was a predetermined murder as Rivers State Police Command has confirmed it as a case of assassination”.
The party recalled that it had earlier complained about the killings in the state which it said had become part of the Chief Nyesom Wike led government in the state, adding that their fears as earlier expressed has been proven right by the latest killings.
Odike posited that: “The Rivers State Government and its agent should be held responsible for the killing of Ken Atsuwete. Late Atsuwete was one of the lead council to APC chieftain, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree who is currently incarcerated on trump up charges by the Rivers State government”.
“Last week Ken while on a radio programme threatened that he will this week, expose how the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Samuel Nwanosike who is also the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, obtained a court order allegedly restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing rerun election results of Tai Local Government Area in the state and to present prove that such a court order does not exist and as the judge who gave the order has been on vacation.”
They also recalled that the deceased had on several occasions complained of being sent threat messages for speaking out on critical state issues.
While commending the police for declaring the death of Atsuwete as a clear case of assassination, the party urged the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Odesanya and other security outfits in the state to swiftly unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the lawyer.
The APC also called on the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to rise up and fight for their slain colleague.
