Nigerian soldiers on parade
Photo: AFP

The military authorities in southern Nigerian state of Rivers have suggested a change in the attitude of their men to members of the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi gave the indication when he addressed supporters of his party, disclosing that he has the assurance of a top military officer, who told him on phone that : “Sir, campaign has changed gear’.

The military and the police have been accused incessantly by Amaechi and his party for supporting the Peoples Democratic Party in the 28 March presidential election. Amaechi is optimistic that the security apparatus will now be neutral following the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari.

What the statement means, the governor said, is that, supporters of APC will no longer be molested and harassed by the police or the military. “Everybody can come out and exercise his franchise”.

The governor vowed to use the law to bring the killers of Chief Christopher Adube, his three children, his younger brother, lyke Ikechukwu and his two gatemen to book assured party supporters that security agencies will no longer harass them.

While addressing loads of APC supporters in Bani, Bean Ken-Khana, Kaani-babee, Nwiyakara, Kono-Boue, Uegwere-Boue, Zaakpor, Kaani and Opu-oko communities, Amaechi frowned at the electoral fraud and rigging of the presidential election by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and warned that any criminally minded person who attempts to deprive Rivers people from exercising their legitimate franchise will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, “We are all eyewitnesses to what happened during the last presidential election where the Peoples Democratic Party carried out electoral fraud with INEC officers and the police.