APC Delegation Visit to Amaehi: Police, Supporters Clash

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, averted what would have been a clash between the police and his supporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

Amaechi, who was at the airport to receive leaders of the All Progressives Congress, was shocked to learn that his supporters were barred from entering the airport to welcome former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (retd.), APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and other members of the party.

It was gathered that the governor, who was earlier at the airport at about 8.30am, had moved to the main entrance where a team of policemen had blocked the gate, preventing thousands of his supporters from entering.

The crowd, who were already spoiling for war at about 9am, stood at the gate and refused to move back when security operatives directed them to do so.

The police, according to sources, were hesitant in opening the gate, until some of the youths forced the gate open in anger.

While about 20 per cent of the crowd managed to follow the governor, others remained outside as the policemen on the ground ensured that the gate remained locked.

The governor trekked about five kilometres from the main entrance of the airport to the VIP lounge with some of his supporters that came to welcome the APC leaders.

The leader of the police team, Ache Joseph, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the development and expressed fear that the crowd that followed the governor could cause trouble.

While motorists faced tough time trying to pass through the road as crowd spilled onto the road, many, who wanted to travel through the airport, remained static on the road due to the closure of the gate.

At the airport VIP lounge, Amaechi, who expressed anger over the situation at the gate, said the police were portraying themselves as the military wing of the PDP.