Comrade Omobolanle Dickson Rivers APC chief petitions Police over assault THE leader of the All Progressives Congress in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and the House of Representatives candidate of the party, Chief Tony Okocha, has called on the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Dan Bature, to arrest the former local government chairman of the area, Chief Timothy Nsirim, for allegedly assaulting him during the APC ward congress. Okocha told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday that Nsirim, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Obio/Akpor, who walked into the venue of the APC ward congress in Ward 12, attacked him with a chair. He expressed surprise that a PDP chieftain could come into an APC event to attack him, adding that he was able to defend himself when Nsirim attempted to hit him with a chair for the second time. The APC House of Representatives candidate expressed the need for the police to ensure that Nsirim was arrested and made to explain the reason behind his action in Obio/Akpor on Saturday. Okocha maintained that the APC had taken permission from the Paramount Ruler of Rumueme Community, Eze Omunakwe Nsirim, to use a particular spot for the congress and wondered why the traditional ruler’s son decided to disrupt the APC exercise in the area. He said, “As we were about to start the meeting, I saw a black jeep and Timothy Nsirim came out and advanced towards me. I was thinking that he was coming to exchange pleasantries with me since we are brothers. “But suddenly, he (Nsirim) ordered a policeman that was on guard to maintain peace to leave the vicinity. I saw a situation where Nsirim slapped the policeman at the back and ordered him to leave the place and the policeman obeyed. “I have called the State Police Commissioner and explained everything to him. We have challenged the police to do what is right because Nsirim’s action was unprovoked and uncalled for. I was assaulted and the police should arrest him and make him to explain the reasons behind his action.” Okocha added that he became shocked when ex-council chairman (Timothy Nsirim) allegedly ordered a policeman that was on the ground to maintain peace to leave the venue of the state APC local congress. He recalled that vehicles belonging to two ward chairmen of the APC in the area were destroyed during the incident. According to him, he had to leave the vicinity to prevent anybody from accusing him of being responsible for any mayhem that could occur within the place. He expressed worry that the former council chairman’s action portend danger to the forthcoming election, adding that the police must stand their ground to prevent violence during the February 2015 poll. On Tuesday’s visit by the APC presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.) to Rivers State to flag off his campaign, Okocha, who is the Director of Mobilisation, said over 10,000 party supporters would be mobilised to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. Reacting, Nsirim disagreed with Okocha, saying that he (Nsirim) was hit with a bottle on the head by Okocha’s supporters, adding that he never retaliated. Asked why he walked into an APC organised ward congress as a PDP chieftain, Nsirim explained that he was not aware that it was an event organised by the APC and added that he never knew he was walking into a lion’s den. The former council chairman stated that he thought that it was an event organised by members of his community. “Immediately I came down, I was attacked. I did not go there with any stick; I did not go with anybody. But he (Okocha) sent some boys and they started using bottle on me. Tony Okocha led the attack. “I have never for one day in my life offended anybody. I don’t have boys, but he (Okocha) has boys. I was hit on my head with a bottle and nobody replied him. What he has said are all lies.”
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 19:17:29 +0000
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