Dynamite Use by Protesters will End Democracy if Not Stopped Now – G60 Lawmakers

Group of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives known as the G60 has said that the use of dynamite explosives by protesters in Rivers State will end democracy if not stopped now. Despite calls by the police on groups to suspend their planned protest over the local government tenure elongation crisis in Rivers State, […]

Group of opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives known as the G60 has said that the use of dynamite explosives by protesters in Rivers State will end democracy if not stopped now.

Despite calls by the police on groups to suspend their planned protest over the local government tenure elongation crisis in Rivers State, some supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom, defied the order to stage a protest leading to death of one person following the detonation of a dynamite explosive in front of Hotel Presidential, Aba Road, around 9.45am.

Reacting to the development, the G60 lawmakers in statement signed by its spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, stated that the use of explosive is an invitation to anarchy which must be averted.

The lawmakers called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Inspector General of Police and DSS to find out who financed the use of explosives at a protest and find out whether there are other explosives that have been planted in different corners in Rivers state.

They also called on the police to allow council workers to resume work and channel energy to arresting bomb bearing protesters.

The lawmakers said, “We wish to condemn in strong terms the idea of protesters moving about with explosives and more importantly these are supporters of a minister who is serving in President Tinubu’s government. Seeing supporters of a minister serving in president Tinubu’s government carrying explosives and which we already heard that one or two people already died because of the device exploded is very worrisome.

“The security agencies should use the energy they are using in sealing up local government headquarters to actually find out how explosives were moved into Rivers State. These were how Boko Haram and all the security issues we are dealing with in Nigeria started and we shouldn’t allow this. Explosion in a political protest? The thing we need to find out, is was this explosion meant for governor Fubara or government house or river’s people? Why explosives. These people are hell brand on bringing down the state, inflicting bloody harm on innocent citizens. And the police is more interested in sealing local government headquarters even when there’s no legal basis for that.

“President Bola Tinubu owes Nigerians a duty to direct the Inspector General of Police and DSS to find out who financed the use of explosives at a protest and find out whether there are other explosives that have been planted in different corners in Rivers state. If government doesn’t do this we hold government responsible if anything leads to breakdown of law and order in Rivers. Government should have arrested those local government chairmen who made an attempt to illegally seal the local government, including those calling for state of emergency, they maybe working as a group.”