Ex-militant, Ateke Tom says no more political rallies in Okrika

Ateke Tom, former Niger Delta militant, says following the crisis that broke out during the APC governorship rally in Okrika, Rivers state last week, the people of Okrika have decided that there will be no more political rallies in their village.

According to Daily Independent, the ex militant said this after a stakeholders meeting with the people of Okrika yesterday February 24th.

"The people of Okrika have spoken and I am in support of the position that they have taken. My people have spoken: no more political rallies in Okrika. I am in support of their decision. Who am I to say no? You want them to kill me?
When the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) held their rally there was no problem. But there was violence when the All Progressives Congress (APC) staged their rally in Okrika; there was violence and people were injured and property destroyed. A police man we were told was unfortunately killed. So, PDP and APC, there will be no more rallies in Okrika. We don’t want violence in Okrika anymore. The people of Okrika want to preserve the exiting peace in Okrika. We don’t want any violence in Okrika. We no longer want any trouble in Okrika. My advice to the youths is to resist the temptation of being lured by politicians to perpetrate violence. Politicians are like that; they will use you and dump you. Any youth that allows himself to be used for violence in Okrika is on his own. Politicians will use you and dump you when you are in trouble. I am warning our youths to stay out of violence because at the end of the day nobody will be there for them” he said.