Wike accuses security agencies of orchestrating violence

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says, the violence that marred the rerun elections in the state was orchestrated by security agencies with a motive to making the state ungovernable.

The governor said that the police high command has arrested and detained in Abuja all his personal police details who accompanied him to stop SARS Commander, Akin Fakorede, from rigging Rivers East senatorial district. The command said the policemen shouldn’t have accompanied him on the mission.

The governor stated this yesterday when he addressed members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council who paid him a goodwill Christmas visit.

But when contacted, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, said the command was not aware of any arrest.

Governor Wike explained that he was compelled to take action because the previous day, policemen and soldiers were used by the APC at Ikwerre LGA to beat up PDP agents and force collation officers to concoct results.

“The security agencies orchestrated plans to cause violence with a view to making the state ungovernable for ulterior motives.
“My personal police details who accompanied me to stop Fakorede from successfully rigging the Rivers East Senatorial District election have been arrested and detained in Abuja.”

The governor also noted that Rivers State has been peaceful since the conclusion of the rerun elections.

“Look at how peaceful Rivers State has become after the elections. Why was the election violent? It is because they wanted particular candidates to win and they wanted to rig in favour of such candidates.

“I was called to share seats. I said I will not participate in such a fraud. I insisted that the votes must count. Let everyone go for elections. “

The governor also alleged that INEC connived with APC to print fake result sheets ahead of the elections. He noted that INEC and police have swept the matter under the carpet.

He informed that many INEC staff who were victims of violence by security agencies were under pressure from the electoral commission to deny the physical assault on them.

Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Opobo warned against the militarization of the electoral process.

He commended Governor Wike for always defending the rights of his people and for his developmental projects in the course of 2016, saying that his efforts have helped to improve the fortunes of the state.