Senator Lee Maeba, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and estranged political ally to the River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has raised the alarm over an alleged threat to his life.
Maeba, who represented the Rivers South-East District in the red chamber of the National Assembly, is a staunch supporter of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 elections.
He fell out of favour with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, after he declared support for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who won the party’s primaries.
On the alleged threat to his life, Maeba referred to a Facebook post by one Mapharson Alaye Bright obtained by our correspondent, which attracted several reactions.
The post read, “There is a serious allegation that Governor Wike, has directed Government House Chief Security Officer, Police Commandant Government House and His Chief of Staff to clampdown on the PDP members alleged to be in support of Atiku Abubakar where ever they are seen within Rivers State and beyond.
“Those marked for the mission are likely Senator George Sekibo, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, Senator Lee Maeba, His Excellency Chief Barr Celestine Omehia, Hon Chief Dr. Abiye Precious Sekibo, Prince Uche Secondus, Hon. Chinyere Igwe, Hon. Dr. Farah Dagogo just to mentioned but a few.
“We urge Rivers People to take note of this callous directive. We urge Rivers People to take note of this directive by Governor Wike.”
Senator Maeba while speaking exclusively to our correspondent in Port Harcourt on the telephone said since the above post was made public on August 26, 2022, the Rivers State Government has neither denied nor refuted it.
The former Senator explained that he got wind of a recent meeting which corroborates the facebook warnings on the planned attack on him and the others mentioned in the post who are staunch supporters of Atiku.
Maeba said he had notified the Inspector General of Police, the Director, Department of State Services and the state Commissioner of police on the said threat.
“I was informed of a meeting in Government House where they were planning how to attack me and kill me, and a name was mentioned. A certain superintendent, whom they say is in Government House Security.
“In this regard, I have called the Commissioner of Police and discussed with him. I have also told the Director, Department of State Services. A petition about this has also gone to the Inspector General of Police,” he said.
Senator Maeba further alleged that one of those said to be in the said meeting had constantly rained abuses on him and asked him to come home, even when he was not running for any elective position.
He said, “So, it is not a joke. I am not campaigning for any office. I am not running an election. Campaigns have not started. So, why every day you go on the dailies after abusing me, you say I should come home? Come home to do what, so, that I will be killed? This is serious. I just want the public to know that there is a plot to kill me.”
Maeba further said he was supporting all the 51 candidates of the party for the 2023 elections, including the presidential standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar. I believe that a candidate of our party, the PDP has emerged and we do not need any other negotiation to support that candidate, who is Atiku Abubakar.
“I am also supporting the governorship candidate of our party in the state, the three senatorial candidates, the thirteen House of Representatives candidates and all our state house of assembly candidates to win the elections, nothing more. If they win, it is victory for all of us who are members of the party,” Maeba stated.
Several calls put across to the mobile telephone of the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Emeka Woke, were not answered.
Woke also neither replied to WhatsApp and text messages sent to him by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report on Friday evening.
Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant on Media to the governor, could notbe reached on his mobile, even as he had yet to reply to a text and WhatsApp message sent to his mobile as of the rime of filing this report.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka said the senator should make an official report to the command or write a petition, saying action would be taken.
“Let him make a formal complaint or write a petition and we will commence Investigation,” Eboka said.
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