Rivers State government has petitioned the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff and other relevant authorities not to release army personnel to politicians in the state who intended to disrupt the polls on Saturday in the state.
Wike in a state broadcast yesterday said the state government petitioned the aforementioned based on credible intelligence indicating the plans by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to overrun and disrupt the Saturday elections in the state using the army personnel, civilian thugs and cultists dressed in the army and police uniforms.
The governor said Amaechi, who alongside the APC governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, was indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry for fraudulently acquiring the State’s valued assets and diverting the State’s $50,000,000.00 to themselves, wants to unleash violence during Saturday election.
“We have written to notify the Hon. Minister of Defence, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, and the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, and requested that no military personnel is released to Rotimi Amaechi or any other politician to interfere with next Saturday’s elections in Rivers State.
“Furthermore, we have noticed that the Anti-terrorism Unit of the State Police command continues to provide VIP security services to politicians in defiance of the Inspector-General’s order to withdraw all police personnel attached to VIPs during the elections.
“We, therefore, request the Inspector-General of Police to enforce his order by ensuring that all political leaders are restricted to their polling units and prevented from moving about with police escort,” he warned.
The Governor also requested the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the following 27 local politicians who are plotting to disrupt the elections with armed thugs, cultists, and gangsters in military and police uniforms.
The politicians are: Dr. Lenoonu Nwibubasa, Bright Nwinyoodee, Barika Bareh, Friday Sinee, Dumbari Deezua, Neeka Ikina, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson, Giobari Poiba, Barisi Bonikoo, Hon. Mike Amachree, Paul Lawrence Paul, Anosike Odua, Mr. Ogbams Ojimah, Kenneth Chinda, Smiles Azundah and Gift Welebe.
Others include Nwobueze Amadi, Chidi Wosa, Ugochukwu Wosu, Ndidi Erim, Lucky Mmai, Baridi Edmund Katara, Solo Filiman Mon, Charles Anyanwu, Christian Pedro, Iworiabo Amachree, and Arokosimiya Ikalama.
Wike charged the security high command to live up to their responsibility by providing adequate security throughout the state to forestall any security breaches or breakdown of law and order during and after the elections.
He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to guarantee and ensure that Saturday’s elections are free, fair, and credible, by allowing the electorate to decide their leaders.
He stressed that with the quality of progress, his administration has delivered in the last eight years adding that the state will be more outstanding, closer to fulfilling its purpose if the current development tempo is strengthened and sustained for the next four years.
He, however, maintained that his successor should be someone who will consolidate and continue with the new Rivers vision.
“This is precisely what the candidate of the PDP, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, have committed to accomplishing with their blueprint for consolidation and continuity. Siminalayi Fubara is a Christian, a Knight of St. Christopher, and an accountant with over two decades of working experience in civil service.
“He progressed to the zenith of his public service career as Permanent Secretary and Accountant General of Rivers State, where he recently resigned to contest as the governorship candidate of the PDP.
“Siminalayi Fubara’s running mate, Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Odu, is also Christian with an excellent public service career. She is a former Permanent Secretary, Commissioner for Education, and university lecturer.”
The governor harped that this is the first time former civil servants with knowledge, capacity, competence, passion and experience have been given a chance to administer the State and drive its development with their blueprint for the consolidation and continuity of the New Rivers Vision.
To ensure effective participation in Saturday’s election, governor Wike has therefore declared Friday, March 17 as a public holiday to enable all private and public sector workers to travel to their communities and vote in their polling units.
