The Action People’s Party, APP, has condemned the alleged bombing of the state secretariat in Rivers State, labelling it an act of terrorism.
Briefing journalists on Monday at the party’s state secretariat in GRA Port Harcourt, the National Chairman of APP, Uchenna Nnadi, disclosed that the incident occurred on Sunday night shortly after a strategic meeting, fortunately, no party members were harmed.
Nnadi urged President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to take decisive action against those responsible for the violent act, which he believes is intended to instil fear among residents.
Nnadi said, “It is actually a sad day for democracy. We condemn in the strongest terms the act of bombing our Rivers State Chapter Secretariat. It is a heinous act, it is an act of terrorism, it is a treasonable act.
“We thank God almighty who spared the lives of our members. Immediately they left after a strategic meeting in the dead of the night this heinous act was carried out.
“We are all aware of what is happening in Rivers State that it is all about seizing the treasury of Rivers State.
“We know this is not the first time this act of terrorism has happened, we have incidents of bombing before.
“We are calling upon Mr President, the Heads of Security Agencies to go after these criminal elements whose interest is to instil fear and violence in Rivers State.”
Nnadi further revealed that the party has received indications of increased interest in the party in anticipation of the October 5 local government elections, which the governor intends to conduct.
Nnadi alleged that those opposed to the elections, unable to halt it through legal means, have turned to violence.
He encouraged party members in Rivers State to remain steadfast and united.
“We as a party, are not deterred. We are sure that they are getting the signal of Rivers People joining our party in preparation for the forthcoming local government election.
“And they want to undermine this good policy of the governor who wants to conduct the LGA election.
“These people at first, they said that conduct local government elections and the governor set plans in place to conduct the election, we know how they have been shopping from one order or the other in courts in the federation trying to stop the local government elections.
“They have seen that they are not able to achieve that, they have resorted to violence. They want to stop the process and the good policies of the governor at all costs.
“But I am sure that the good people of Rivers State know that the intention of the Governor is for the welfare of the populist.
“So we condemn this act, we call Mr President and heads of security agencies to go after these people who are behind this criminality and let them face the music and the long arm of the Law.
“We call upon our members and supporters in Rivers State to rally round the party, let them not be deterred,” he added.
Also speaking, the APP State Chairman in Rivers State, Sunny Wokekoro, said the incident has only strengthened their resolve and demonstrated defeat for those responsible.
“Those who have done this had thought that this will deter us, unfortunately, it has given us more resolve to go on to do what we are supposed to do because it is a clear indication of defeat on their side.
“It is a clear indication that we are doing the right thing and we will not be deterred at all.
“This barbaric act of people who think that they are a reservoir of violence, who think that Rivers State must bend to whatever they want, we have come to change the narrative, whether anybody likes it or not one thing that is constant in life is change but the beauty of it is that the people are against them, the time is against them, most importantly God is against.”
Wokekoro alluded that, “the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been emptied into the APP.”
While commending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his efforts to maintain peace in the state, Wokekoro urged the governor to ensure that security agencies thoroughly investigate the bombing.
He also commended the state Commissioner of Police for his swift response to the incident and expressed confidence that an investigation would lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators.
“We are only asking that the Governor of the state ensure to call on the security apparatus to do the needful.
“I thank the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State for his prompt response of coming here to see things for himself, it is a booster to some of us. We believe that he is going to do the needful so that the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to book.“
In the meantime, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who also briefed journalists at the scene of the incident while carrying out an on-the-spot assessment said, “I heard about this yesterday, we deployed our team to take charge of the area.
“The Bomb squad has been sent here and I am waiting for their report. I would not want to go deep into that because I have not gotten my full report.
“Everybody should be concerned about security, about their safety and security. I do not want to go deep down into some things that I do not want to mention now, but most importantly everybody has to take their security seriously.
Speaking further, CP Disu said, “I quickly sent in our officers to this place yesterday because anywhere there is an explosion there is likely to be a second one, so usually we move people away from there and that is what my team succeeded in doing yesterday.”
Security agencies are currently at the scene of the incident, with caution tapes on the scene of the incident.
DAILY POST gathered from an eyewitness in the area that the incident occurred around 9:35 pm on Sunday.