By: Felix Ikpotor
How the Rivers State Commissioner for Economic Empowernment/ Employment Generation, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasar cheated death on the day of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held last Saturday is still a miracle as gunmen suspected to be political thugs, attacked him at his home town Wiiyaakara in Khana local government area of the state.
The attack which took place at his family house shortly after he cast his vote left two persons injured.
Nwibubasar while confirming the incidence, accused the former Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Derek Mene of masterminding the attack on him and members of his family.
“Today we all came home to exercise our civic responsibility and unfortunately here in Wiiyaakara, we noticed that thugs attached to one Mr Derek Mene, attacked our people with the intent of carting away electoral materials,” he said.
He continued that, ” Shortly after we cast our votes, I was at home here with my family members and supporters and suddenly policemen attached to him (Derek Mene), well known, they came in here and shot sporadically at close range and two of the people are hospitalized while others who sustained injuries are at large”
“You can see the walls of my house are all perforated with bullet holes, I was personally attacked but by the grace of God I escaped unhurt”.
The Commissioner who described the situation as most unfortunate said the situation has been reported to the police and other security agencies.
When contacted, Mr. Derek Mene denied the allegation.
Mene who spoke through one of his aides, Ewonubari Damgbor said the for EDFA of NDDC is a peace-loving man and cannot order for such an action.
Damgbor said Mr Mene is not contesting any elections and wondered why he should be linked to the attack and further urged members of the public to discountenance the accusation.
