Security operatives have laid siege on the hotel where Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is lodging in Benin City, Edo State.
Wike is the Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for Edo Governorship Election, currently on official assignment in Benin City for Saturday’s polls.
The Editor Nigeria understands that the governor lodged at Best Western Hotel in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of the state capital.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement signed by the party’s Chairman in Rivers State, Akawor Desmond, claims that “security agencies have decided to harass and intimidate Governor Wike who has not done any wrong.”
He wrote: “The attention of the entire people of Rivers State has been drawn to the siege laid at the hotel where the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike is lodging while on official assignment in Benin, Edo State.
“Recall that Governor Wike was appointed Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election; this is the same position Governor Ganduje of Kano State occupies for his party, the APC.
“Governor Ganduje and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State are all in Benin, Edo State carrying out their assignment for the APC without any molestation or intimidation.
“And in a breach of the pledge, they made security agencies have decided to harass and intimidate Governor Wike, who has not done any wrong.
“May I, on behalf of entire Rivers People, Warn that we shall hold the IGP responsible for anything that happens to our governor.
Rivers Commissioner for Information, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, said they were afraid for the governor’s life in Benin City.
He said: “Rivers State Government rejects the siege on the hotel of Governor Nyesom Wike in Benin City. We are in a democracy.
“So, he should not be intimidated, in view of the fact that he is the Chairman of the National Campaign Council of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Edo State’s September 19 governorship election.
“We are afraid for the life of Governor Wike, a very harmless citizen of Nigeria. Rivers people will not keep quiet. So, no harm must befall Governor Wike, a loyal and committed leader of PDP.”
Police sources hinted the siege was not to force Wike out of Edo State but to quarantine him since movement restriction would commence at 11:59pm.
They claimed that operatives were also deployed to pin down other political gladiators to prevent them from moving around during voting hours.
Although there is no official statement from neither DIG Oyebade, the Commissioner of Police (Election) Garba Umar nor the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Edo State Command, Chidi Nwabuzor at the time of filing this report.
