The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned in the strongest of terms what it called the inciting speech of Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, prompting the party to write to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The party in a statement issued today in Port Harcourt by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, quoted part of the petition to the ICC:

“I would like to draw your attention to a developing situation in Nigeria as a result of the forthcoming general elections in 2015.

“As campaigns just opened on the 16th of November, 2014 it is frightening that some politicians have adopted tactics, language and styles similar to what gave rise to the sad situation now popularly known as the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.”

The Rivers APC Spokesman attached the Youtube video evidence for ICC evaluation. The video shows Governor Shema making what in River’s APC’s judgment amounts to a highly inflammatory statement that has the potential to cause person-on-person violence along primordial lines.

“I do believe that you will respond to my email and advise on whether I could go on and bring forward a full report on the incident,” Mr. Finbone told the ICC.

The Youtube video (the link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-kY6ivMF1Y) is in Hausa Language. Below is the translation of the inciting part of Shema’s speech:

“If you look around, some states that I will not mention here, they keep making the headlines that PDP could not do this or that, but they should know Katsina State is PDP and we have done it.

“You should not be bothered with ‘cockroaches of politics’.

“Cockroaches are only found in the toilet, even at homes.

“If you see a cockroach in your house what do you do?

Crowd responds: “You kill it!”

Gov. Shema agrees: “Crush them!”

He continues, saying: “Anyone who does anything against you we’ll retaliate; I’m telling you now.

“Before now people from the opposition will humiliate us in the PDP and we will say don’t do anything about it but now I am telling you to fight back.”

•Photo shows ‘Cocroach Governor’ Shema.

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