Wike blames Rivers crisis on APC, frequent transfer of security chiefs

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the incessant transfer of security chiefs, as the cause of perennial crisis in the state.

Wike, who stated this in Port Harcourt yesterday said the government has taken concrete measures to improve the security of the state, through improved funding of security agencies and provision of necessary logistics to the
security agencies.

According to him, the interference by some APC politicians, who want to undermine his administration, was the cause of the frequent crisis.

However, APC in the state had challenged security agencies to conduct their activities in a way that would convince everyone of their impartiality, and advised them not to allow themselves to be bought by the governor, in his desperation to completely conquer and possess the state.

“The Federal Government needs to allow security chiefs remain in Rivers State to do their jobs and douse the tensions. I have had over three Commissioners of Police removed since I became governor,” he said.

Commenting on penultimate Saturday rerun elections, the governor maintained that he does not regret warning those who plotted to rig the polls.

According to him, subverting the will of the people through rigging of polls remains one of the worst crimes that should not be tolerated.

Wike explained that the strength of PDP is overwhelming in Rivers State and it is evident on the streets, arguing tha that even in Opobo/Nkoro, where INEC declared APC winner, polling units results indicate that PDP emerged victorious.

“The battle for Rivers State has become personal to Chibuike Amaechi and he is escalating tensions in the State. Security Chiefs must be allowed to remain and do their work to help tackle insecurity,” he said.

On the death of the national youth service corps member, Samuel Okonta, who lost his life during the rerun elections, the governor described the incident as painful, restating his stance for an independent investigation and post mortem on the corpse, to ascertain the type of gun and bullet that killed him and those who carry such weapons.

“I have told the NYSC, we must know the kind of bullet that killed the corps. We want to know those who killed the corps. The death of a corps member during the rerun is painful. Investigation of his death has been ordered,” he added.

He argued that there is no political killings in Rivers State, adding that the incidents in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni areas are cult-related, which he said were being tackled.

Wike stated that in spite of distractions, he administration has succeeded in completing many abandoned projects left by the previous government.

He added that his government has also cleared backlog of unpaid salaries and pensions, and succeeded in restoring the judiciary, by reopening the courts shutdown by the previous government.

The APC chairman, Davis Ikanya, has insisted that the rerun elections were violence-ridden, and called for their cancellations.

“We are shocked and speechless by the speed with which the Secretary to Rivers State Government, Kenneth Kobani, his Special Assistant on Special Projects, Cyril Dum Wite, and Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, were released and allowed to go home despite the overwhelming evidence against them,” said Ikanya.