Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has made good his words to personally attend today’s rally in Ogoniland despite fears of a breakdown of law and order and advice against doing so.

“We are off to Bori for the rally and His Excellency is going with us,” a source close to Governor Amaechi told News Express minutes ago.

The Concerned Ogoni Elders’ Forum had yesterday appealed to Amaechi not to attend the rally following the violent disruption of the earlier one planned for last Sunday by suspected ex-militants.

Angered by the disruption of the rally, Amaechi had vowed to lead the rally rescheduled for today and dared the police to shoot him.

His words: “I will be there next Saturday. I am going there for a rally on Saturday and I invite Channels. First, we will try as much as possible to replace the things that are missing and stolen. On Saturday I will be there.

“When they say former President Obasanjo is lying about snipers and one thousand names, they said Nigeria Police has no rubber bullets. Where did rubber bullets come from? Is it one of the snipers that shot at Magnus Abe? Could it be that they were aiming it at me? But for the first time, I will want to expose myself, I will be there. I will be there on Saturday. Let them come and shoot.”

Spokesperson of the Concerned Ogoni Elders’ Forum, Kobani Bere, had in a press briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday observed that tension has increased in Ogoniland since the violent disruption of the Save Rivers Movement rally and the subsequent threat by the governor to dare the police.

Bere said: “The Forum considered the implications of recent politically inspired activities in the area (Ogoniland), particularly the incidences in Kpor, Gokana Local Government Area on Monday, January 13, 2014 and Sunday, January 19, this year in Bori, Khana Local Government Area.

“The Forum observed that the verbal, shooting and alleged physical attacks on some of our innocent youths by political thugs and stooges amongst us are of grave concern to us (Ogoni) as an ethnic nationality.”

Bere implored Amaechi to cancel the rally in order not to heighten the already tensed atmosphere, and to forestall possible breach of the fragile peace in the area.

He also appealed to officials of the Rivers State Government and all politicians to desist from using Ogoni as a demonstration field for political violence, saying:

“All political gatherings or rallies intended to be held in any part of Ogoniland (Khana, Gokana, Tai or Eleme) should be communicated to the Police and the appropriate permit secured from the Police authorities before such gathering is organised.”

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi.

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