Wike: Attack on Fayose shows Nigeria’s democracy is under siege

Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, has condemned the alleged attack on Ekiti state by the police.

Speaking at a press conference in government house, Port Harcourt, Wike said Fayose was lucky to have escaped.

He said the attack was an affront on the inalienable rights of the people of the state to a peaceful, free, fair and credible election, calling on the people of Rivers to be prepared to defend their mandate in 2019.

He alleged that the federal government would apply the same technique in all the states.

“I join well-meaning Nigerians to condemn this brazen attack on the inalienable rights of the people of Ekiti state to a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the strongest possible terms and warn the perpetrators of the grave danger such actions pose to the survival of our democracy,” he said.

“I wish to also draw the attention of the people of Rivers state to the fact that what is happening in Ekiti state is clearly a foretaste of what the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government has planned to unleash in our state and, in deed, the entire country, in their desperate attempt to rig 2019 general election and retain or return to power, having performed woefully and lost the support of the generality of Nigerians.

“As a matter of fact, people did not quite believe me when I told the world that the APC-led federal government has plans to assassinate me to enable them capture Rivers state, because they know they have no electoral foothold in the state.

“Today, the whole world has seen how Fayose was barely lucky to have escaped the state-sponsored attempt at his life, with a fractured hand and bruised face because, with him around, hale and hearty, they will never win the Saturday elections free and fair in Ekiti.

“In the face of these challenges, therefore, I wish to call on the people of Rivers state to be prepared to fight and defend their rights to freely and democratically elect their leaders in the 2019 general election.”

He assured the people of Rivers that he would not surrender their mandate, adding that he will defend the interest of the state with his life.

“As your governor, I will never surrender your mandate and abiding interest of our state to our enemies who seek to keep us enslaved and plundered even at the pain of death,” he said.

“I wish to commend and congratulate Fayose and the people of Ekiti state for standing up and standing firm in defence of their rights to freedom, democracy and good governance.

“I want to assure you of the support of the government and people of Rivers at these trying times. You need not fear as God will surely defeat your enemies and grant you a resounding victory on Saturday.”