Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday disclosed that an assassination attempt was made on his life on Thursday night.
He alleged that soldiers sent by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham, confronted his security details.
Wike made the disclosure while speaking with journalists after a meeting with officials of the British High Commission at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has been taking very unprofessional measures to silence PDP members and further alleged that the military was supplying fake uniforms to militants hired by the APC for the purpose of disrupting the elections and unleashing mayhem.
Gov. Wike said he has informed the British High Commission and other foreign missions of the anti-democratic actions of the security forces, especially the Nigerian Army.
He said: “Last night; the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army plotted an assassination on my life. Thank God, that was not successful.
“On Friday, 15th of January, a day to the 16th of February, the first date for the elections before it was rescheduled, the GOC sent soldiers to cordon off my private residence.
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“Yesterday, I was shocked that when I left Government House to see some political leaders, soldiers were trailing me. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t have military security details.
“Along Abacha road where you have Algate Hotel, to my surprise I heard my security men shouting that the soldiers are behind us. I have said this severally about the GOC of the 6 Division that nobody should kill because he was promised the position of Chief of Army Staff. “
Stressing that Rivers State was strategically positioned in Nigeria and should not be destabilised for any reason, the Governor said: “Rivers State is so important to this country. The economy of Nigeria cannot survive without Rivers State. By what they are doing, they are scaring investors away.”.
He called on the President to prevail on the Army to reduce their level of partisanship and illegal activities ahead of the elections, claiming that the GOC held a meeting with the soldiers on Thursday where he mandated them to do everything possible to ensure that the President wins.
He pleaded that Nigerians should be allowed to support whoever they want to support.
He lamented that the Nigeria Army had started arresting PDP members and supporters in Eleme and other Local Government Areas, claiming that 182 persons have been pencilled down for arrest by the Army.
Earlier, the Political Officer of the British High Commission in Nigeria, Louis Edwards said that they were in the state to observe the Elections.
She said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Rivers State assured her that things would work well. She said that she is looking forward to a peaceful Elections.