Pained by the news of the death of a human rights activist and lawyer, Ken Atsuwete, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Bro. Felix Obuah, has said it was a shocker that threw the entire party into deep mourning and grave concern.
Obuah condemned the murder of the “young, energetic and sound-minded lawyer”, who has over the years contributed significantly to the respect of human rights, the rule of law, social and criminal justice, as well as democracy and good governance in the State.
Obuah, describing Atsuwete as a household name in the practice of the law profession and in Civil Society activism in the State, said his death is an unfortunate and incisive cut in the vanguard in defence of democracy and the administration of justice.
While calling on the Police and other security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in unraveling the perpetrators of the dastardly act, the PDP boss reiterated his appeal to politicians, particularly Dakuku Peterside, Magnus Abe, Davies Ikanya and other members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, not to play politics with issues of security, including the senseless killing of Atsuwete, which he described as a great loss to all Rivers State people.
He said: “Development like this, we believe, should be taken seriously without an injection of an iota of political sentiment or statement as those emanating already from leaders and members in the opposition party, the APC, in the State. It is therefore, our candid view and request that we all put hands on deck to support the various efforts of our performing governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in tackling issues of insecurity and social vices in the State.
“The PDP heartily sympathizes with the family of Barrister Atsuwete and the human rights community, believing that justice will take its course on those responsible for the killing.”
The Rivers State PDP Chairman also appealed to all concerned persons, stakeholders and institutions to allow the Police carry out their investigations into the murder and to do everything to maintain the peace in the State.
Describing Governor Wike as a peacemaker and godly man, Obuah condemned in strong terms the APC leaders in the State who have attempted to drag the name of the Governor and the PDP into the barbaric assassination.
He recalled that just on Saturday at an APC rally in Etche, Peterside had made unprintable and inciting comments capable of tearing Rivers State apart.
He described the APC leaders in Rivers State as bitter and bad losers who wanted to dismember Rivers State because they lost elections.
Obuah said only evil men like the APC leaders in Rivers State dance naked on graves and politicize death and issues of security.