By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja – The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the withdrawal of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
A statement from PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, on Tuesday in Abuja disclosed that more than 70 per cent of security personnel detailed to the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt had also been withdrawn.
He said that the action was unacceptable and an obvious breach of the governor’s constitutional rights.
He described the development as “finalised plans’’ to expose the governor to danger and possibly intimidate him to succumb to plans to rig the election.
He alleged that the security to the governor was withdrawn on the order of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Folusho Adebanjo, who is working on the order of the Federal Government.
The publicity secretary said that the governor had reported the incident to the Inspector General of Police (I-GP) but without any reply.
He added that instead of replying, the CSO to the Governor was withdrawn.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear on the grounds by which the security of a sitting Governor can be withdrawn.
“We, therefore, call on the I-G of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, and the Director General of State Security Services (SSS), Malam Lawal Daura, to as a matter of urgency restore all the security details of Gov. Wike. They should also urgently secure the Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“Failure to do this before the Saturday Dec. 10 re-run elections is indirectly calling on Rivers people to resort to self- help.’’