The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Kenneth Kobani, was reportedly attacked on Thursday evening by armed thugs, as political violence in Rivers State escapes to the level of red alert.
Kobani was allegedly attacked by thugs led by a candidate of All Progressives Congress.
Kobani, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was attacked and his official car destroyed, almost at about thesame time the incumbent governor in the state was fired at in a different centre.
Rivers State has gained notoriety for violence in this election cycle as Amaechi, and former Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, battle for the soul of the state.
Amaechi is determined on the hard task of turning the state over to Presidential candidate of his party, Muhammad Buhari.
But that is being staunchly resisted by Wike and PDP loyalists who fighting to ensure that President Jonathan would not only win but win overwhelming. The First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan hails from the state and is considered a strong factor in its politics as well.
Kobani was in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State for last minute consultations with his people ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
His security details were said to have averted what would have been a black day in Ogoniland and a replay of the Giokoo massacre in 1994.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah, called for the arrest of all the armed thugs involved in the dastardly act.
Obuah, in the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, condemned “the animalistic action” of a man who was supposed to be a “honourable” man. He described Poronem as a failure and disgrace to the Ogoni nation.
The statement added: “The PDP chairman saddened by the attacked on Hon. Kenneth Kobani, regretted repeated attacks on members of the PDP by the APC, happening just few hours after General Buhari signed another peace accord, and described members of the APC as violent.”
Obuah called on the Ogoni people and all members of the PDP to remain calm and law abiding, promising that Poronem must be arrested and prosecuted.
