The kinsmen of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Rivers Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, have described the allegations of murder and terrorism against him as unacceptable.
Ehie was declared wanted by the police in connection with the bombing of the hallowed chamber of the State House of Assembly on September 29, 2023.
But his kinsmen, under the auspices of Ekpeye Ethnic Nationality in the State, called on all parties to the political crisis in the state to respect the eight-point peace agreement.
Reading the position of the kinsmen on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Vice-Chairman of the Rivers West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Robinson Ewor, said the ongoing political issues in the state should be separated from insecurity.
Ewor, a former Deputy Leader, warned against trivialising the death of a former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada, SP Bako Angbashin, whom he described as a gallant officer who gave his all for the peace of the state.
He said, “Since October 30, 2023, it has been one tale to the other. The first story was that people protesting the purported move to appoint a peace executive governor of the state made their way into the Rivers State House of Assembly, setting ablaze certain portions of the complex, vehicles, and other valuables.
“On another breath, those hoodlums made their way into the Assembly complex and set ablaze the hallowed chambers.
“Whichever is correct, it is for the law enforcement agents to carry out a thorough investigation with a view to unravelling those behind the dastardly act.
“But today the story is entirely that of terrorism and the murder of the DPO of Ahoada Police Division, SP Bako Angbanshin and other police informants.
“There is no correlation between the murder of the DPO, which occurred on September 8, 2023, at Odiemudie Forest, Ahoada East LGA, and the event that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly on October 30th, 2023.”
He said that linking the slain DPO to the bombing of the Assembly was making the public lose confidence in the police force and its authorities.
Ewor said: “Nigerians know those who murdered SP Angbashin. The police shoukd help arrest and prosecute them. For those already arrested and charged, the police should diligently prosecute them. “
Ewor described Ehie as an Ekpeye son from Ozochi community in Ahoada East LGA, saying he was first elected into the Assembly in 2015 and held different positions and that his character had been credible in the public.
He said: “Ehie who is now the Chief of Staff to the Governor is our son and we cherish his exploits so far in the political arena of Rivers State and indeed Nigeria.
“That Edison is a law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without any criminal record to date. That Edison is not a murderer and cannot be, nor a terrorist.
“That his stand on the current political crisis in the state is that of principle, truth and we stand fully with him.”
While commending Fubara for implementing the eight point peace agreement brokered by the President, the people called on all parties to respect the agreement.
Ewor said: “We call on all parties in the paece pact to respect it, especially the only request made by our governor that none of his supporters be intimidated or victimized on account of this crisis.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full implementation of the eight point agreement. We also call on the President to call the police authority to order.
” It is a shame and unacceptable for our police authority to link the murder of SP Angbashin that took place in a forest in September 8, 2023 to the planned impeachment of the leader of the House of Assembly that took place in October 2023.
“That the police authority should hands off all investigations into the Rivers crisis because political solution to the crisis is already in place and its implementation ongoing. “
