Wike writes 50 countries over ‘imminent danger of violence’ in Rivers rerun election

The Nyesom Wike-led Rivers state government has petitioned the governments of 50 different countries- to request for global observation of the senate rerun election, scheduled for March 19.
The petition, which was forwarded to the embassies of the 50 countries, was signed by Austin Tam-George, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication.
The petition is said to have been sent to the governments of the United States, Australia, China, the European Union, the Chairman of the African Union, among others.

“I write on behalf of the Government and people of Rivers State, Nigeria to inform you respectfully of the imminent danger posed to the peace and stability of Rivers State, by the actions and provocative utterances of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
The petition accused the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, and the APC gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 election, Dakuku Peterside, and the leadership of APC in the state of using “intimidatory tactics and openly inciting violence against members of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and anyone who holds a different political perspective in the State.”
“In a series of media interviews that began with an appearance on “Focus Nigeria” a live programme on African Independent Television (AIT) in Abuja, and with radio stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister for Transportation in Nigeria continues to use language that is both inciting and dangerously divisive.”
The petition also noted that Amaechi had threatened to rig the election using military officials.
“Homes of key leaders of People Democratic Party are being routinely raided and vandalized by Amaechi’s goons, and plans have already been perfected to arrest all leaders of the PDP in Rivers State 48 hours to the election”.
While expressing dissatisfaction with President Buhari over his inability to heed the call by the PDP to call Amaechi to order, noting that “multi ethnic fault lines could cripple Nigeria’s ailing economy, and reverberate across the country borders.”
The petition further urged the countries to “urgently initiate and maintain pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria to allow free, fair and violence free elections in Rivers State.”