CHRIS ANUCHA, Port HarcourtThere was clash in Etche
Local Government Area of Rivers yesterday,
between supporters of the Supervising Minister of
Education, Chief Nyesom Wike and Pro- Amaechi
group. The incident, which took place at Etche Local
Government Headquarters, Okehi, saw some groups
of youths, armed to the teeth and shooting
sporadically, thereby, causing pandemonium in the
area. Activities in the area were paralyzed for several
hours while travellers avoided the route. Some civil servants, who reported for duty that early
morning were said to have been rattled by sound of
gunshots, as they were seen running helter-skelter,
to prevent being hit by stray bullet. Daily Sun gathered that the gun-trotting youths,
believed to be members of the Grassroots
Development Initiative(GDI), were protesting the plan,
by the local government chairman, and stronger
supporter of Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Mr Reginald
Ukwuoma, to join the All Progressives Congress(APC). The rampaging youths were said to have carried a
coffin, which they dumped at the entrance of the local
government headquarters, before they went on a
shooting spree, chanting anti-Amaechi, anti-Ukwuoma
and anti-APC songs. Though, the timely intervention of
policemen averted what would have resulted in a bloody clash many people still sustained injuries. One of the prominent politicians in Etche, Chief Emma
Anyanwu blamed the clash on the local government
chairman. According to him, Ukwuoma was heating
up the polity in Etche, through his actions, especially,
his planned defection to APC. But an attempt to reach the chairman of Etche Local
Government Area proved futile, as his phone numbers
were not going through, when Daily Sun called. Meanwhile, the Publicity Secretary of GDI, Mr.
Samuel Nwanosike has denied the allegation that it
was members of GDI that perpetrated the act. According to him, it was the people of Etche, who
revolted against the chairman for planning to join APC.
He explained that the people voted for him as the
chairman, under the platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and wondered why he
decided to dump the party. Nwanosike disclosed that the people were also
aggrieved that Ukwuoma did not consult the 19
wards that made up Etche local government before
trying to decamp to APC.

Obiagu1: This is one of the reasons we don't want any political parties with Yoruba signature near the East.

It's not about hatred of Yorubas but how they do their politics.

To them, politics is a do or die affair. Very violent with incessant demonstrations, riots, thuggery, destruction of public properties, political jabs and counter punches, heated atmosphere, assassinations etc.

We are laid back when it comes to politics and Yoruba kind of politics does not interest us.

Akwa Ibom had a little taste of APC. Rivers State's own will be deadly if unchecked!

Easterners, be warned!

Obiagu1: This is one of the reasons we don't want any political parties with Yoruba signature near the East.

It's not about hatred of Yorubas but how they do their politics.

To them, politics is a do or die affair. Very violent with incessant demonstrations, riots, thuggery, destruction of public properties, political jabs and counter punches, heated atmosphere, assassinations etc.

We are laid back when it comes to politics and Yoruba kind of politics does not interest us.

Akwa Ibom had a little taste of APC. Rivers State's own will be deadly if unchecked!

Easterners, be warned!

agbameta: ASSU is still on strike and our students have been out of school for months and the man in charge is out there fighting like some common thug..