APC Chieftain Alleges Rivers Explosion Targeted Senators, Reps on Oversight Duty
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), has claimed that the recent explosion in Port Harcourt was aimed at the Presidential Hotel. At the time, members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Privatization were staying there for an oversight function.
Eze condemned the actions of political followers of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing them of attempting to turn the political landscape of Rivers State into a scene of violence and chaos. He described the June 25, 2024, incident, where an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated near Hotel Presidential during a protest led by Wike’s associates, as a tactic to incite mayhem and give their demands for a state of emergency a national focus.
Eze criticized the protest as a strategy by “sore losers” to create disorder and noted that it was carried out despite police warnings against such actions due to security concerns. He emphasized that such actions go against civilized behavior and responsible conduct in a democracy, equating it to waging war against the state.
The APC chieftain expressed concerns that the investigation into the incident might be compromised due to undue interference, suggesting that there is pressure to transfer the prime suspect to Abuja, where Wike has significant influence. Eze called on the Inspector General of Police to resist any such pressure to ensure a thorough investigation.
He also urged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to summon the protest leaders, including Hon. O.K. Chinda, former Speaker Martin Amaewhule, and former Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman George Ariorlu, to explain their defiance of police warnings and their roles in the protest that led to violence.
Eze’s statement underscores the political tensions in Rivers State and the broader implications of such incidents for governance and public safety.
