Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the heavy deployment of soldiers in Rivers ahead of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state is for the good of the people.
According to him, with military personnel supporting other security agencies already on ground, the exercise would be more secure, thereby avoiding unnecessary loss of lives.
Amaechi made the statement when a delegation of British High Commission to Nigeria paid him a visit at his residence in Port Harcourt, the capital, on Friday.
He said, “With the presence of the military in Rivers State for Saturday’s elections, everybody, including the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party members are protected. They (military) will beef up security in the state.”
The minister stated that the elections of 2015 could not in any way be compared to the 2019 general elections in terms of security situation in Rivers.
Speaking further, Amaechi revealed his decision to endorse the governorship candidate of the African Action Congress in Saturday’s election.
He said, “My party is not on the ballot for Saturday’s elections and you know I have the right to vote; that is why I will vote for the candidate of the AAC.”
Calling for peace ahead of the exercise, head of the British High Commission to Nigeria delegation, Louis Edwards, said they were in Port Harcourt to support free, fair and credible elections.
She said, “We are here to support free, fair and peaceful elections.
“We have engaged major stakeholders such as politicians, security chiefs and INEC personnel on the need to have peaceful elections.”
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