PORT HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – The Rivers Progressives Front (RPF) and the Rivers State Government are trading blames over who is responsible for the spate of kidnapping and violence in the state.
The RPF, which alligns with the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said it has continued to receive credible information that most of the violence and kidnapping happening in Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike became governor were allegedly perpetrated by the governor’s men.
The RPF in a statement signed by its spokesman, Elder Tamuno Iyalla said it is terribly concerned about the trend of things that has almost totally disorganised and dislocated social and economic life in Rivers State, adding that more worrying is the emerging pieces of evidence that the supporters of Gov. Wike were also those behind the heightened state of violence and insecurity in Rivers State.
The statement noted that on Thursday, 19th November, 2015 some persons by the names Goodluck Wogbo 27 years; Charles Nwaoepi 28 years; and Goodnews Kejeh, 28 years all males, were arrested by the Police at Ada-George Road with 3 AK-47 automatic rifles and 300 ammunition given to them (as per their own confession) by an official of Emohua Local Government by the name Mr. Wisdom, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Emohua LG Council, who is an ally/agent of Chief Emeka Woke, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Nyesom Wike.
Continuing the RPF said, “as we make this gruesome development public in this press release, Gov. Nyesom Wike is putting pressure on the Police to release the suspects.”
The RPF called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Kimo, to ensure that his men resist the pressure from Nyesom Wike and thoroughly investigate this matter and prosecute the suspects according to law.
RPF reminded the Commissioner of Police to realise that his reputation and office are being endangered by the activities of criminals who enjoy the support of Wike’s government officials.
However, in its reaction, the Rivers State Government accused the state chapter of APC of playing politics with security.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The state government’s reaction came through a statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, special assistant to Wike on electronic media. The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an uncharitable and false press statement hatched and circulated by the Rivers APC using their media outlets in an attempt to discredit Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s efforts at maintaining security across the state.
“Security remains one of the best achievements of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike’s administration in the last six months, as he has through deliberate investment and strategic planning reduced the high level of kidnapping and armed robbery he inherited from the immediate past administration of the APC in the state.
“Governor Wike and his associates are promoters of a just and secured society.
“Governor Wike’s administration through the Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the Rivers State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Law with very stiff penalties to offenders and their accomplices, which have aided security agencies to arrest and prosecute suspects across the state.
“Governor Wike’s commitment to security is further exemplified by his revval of the judiciary deliberately destroyed by the Rivers APC to promote insecurity. Nobody is deceived by the lies of the APC.
“Governor Wike in the early days of his administration equipped the Police and other security agencies with 64 patrol vans fitted with State-of-the-art communication technology to fight kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes. In addition, Governor Wike reintroduced provision of adequate logistics to the security agencies which was stopped by the last APC administration in the state.
“While performing the inauguration of Local Government Caretaker Committees recently, Governor Wike made security as their principal function. Security of lives and property has been the highpoint of Governor Wike’s superlative performance in office. Therefore, APC’S fictional allegations will not change the facts on ground.
“It is disheartening that the APC in Rivers State has become so desperate as to play politics with the security of the good people of Rivers State. It is high time security agencies took a closer look at the leadership of the Rivers APC as they are neck deep in unpatriotic and subversive actions against the government and people of the state.”
