Rivers: Why Wike is stepping up security

Rivers: Why Wike is stepping up security

By PHC Telegraph

Worried by attem-pts to turn the Rivers State  into a den of malic-ious cultists and rampaging militants, Governor Nyesom Wike on Monday read the riot act.

Wike ordered security agencies in a State broadcast to raid suspected dens and premises that are frequented by cultists, militant support groups and other miscreants.

While stressing that these groups are being used by politicians to disturb the peace, safety and security of the State, the Governor directed law abiding citizens with useful information relating to the activities of cultists, militants and their sponsors to pass on their findings to security agencies.

“I wish to warn that no responsible government will close its eyes to the threat posed by these cultists, fanatical party support groups, and their sponsors to free and fair elections in the State.

“Consequently, I have directed the security agencies to raid any suspected area or premises and clamp down on cultists, militant support groups and other miscreants being used by politicians to disturb the peace, safety and security of the State”, the Governor stressed.

Denouncing “rising cases of cultism in the State during this electioneering period”, Governor Wike lamented that these groups were being “sponsored by politicians to settle political scores.”

“Apart from committing heinous crimes, cultists masking as party support groups and thugs are used by rival party leaders to assault opponents and disrupt party meetings, especially in those political parties with protracted internal crises arising from their flawed primaries.

“We are also aware that desperate politicians are recruiting and arming cultists and other miscreants to be used to attack and intimidate voters during the polls.

He reiterated that nobody is above the law, saying that no amount of misinformation, campaigns of calumny, and diatribes by a section of the political elite and the media will deter the State Government from enforcing laws that are meant for the purpose of guaranteeing order, public safety and public security.

“Unlike other States, we have refrained from using the State’s Neighbourhood Corps to enforce law and order by allowing the regular security agencies to do their constitutional work.

“We pray we may not be forced to reconsider this position if the security agencies continue to encourage and offer protection to some politicians and party leaders to wantonly breach our laws.”

The governor appealed to leaders of political parties to obey laws regulating election campaigns in the State.

He said those laws were meant to instill sanity and safeguard the public interest.

Reviewing the journey so far, Governor Wike said the State has generally enjoyed peaceful campaigns except for a few isolated incidents of violence sponsored by rival cults, gangs and support groups which have taken place in one or two political rallies.

Wike patted security agencies on the back for providing adequate security cover for all political parties to carry on with their electioneering activities.

The Rivers Governor pledged that the State government would continue to support the security agencies to sustain the prevailing atmosphere of peace.

He equally assured that adequate security would be provided for voters to exercise their voting rights without fear or intimidation before, during and after the elections.

“I assure you that there is nothing to fear as the State government and the security agencies will spare no effort to keep Rivers State peaceful, safe and secure for citizens to go about their normal daily activities”, he added.

Watchers of the political scene say that the State broadcast by the Governor came as a huge surprise.

Said one of them who did not want his name in print, “Refreshing as the riot act read by the Governor is, given the spate of violence involving political parties since the campaigns began, I honestly was not expecting it.

“In some cases, his own party, the PDP, has been accused by the opposition of involvement in spiraling violence.

“But his pronouncement has shown that maintaining law and order in Rivers State without minding whose ox is gored is the right thing to do.

“It will be up to the security agencies to up their game. Much will depend on their attitude and of course on the collaboration of the people and the political class.”

The decision to deal decisively with the security threat, insiders say, has been on the table.

Wike has been personally monitoring developments, a source in Government House, Port Harcourt revealed.

On Monday, a Governor who has spent time erecting a security architecture that has kept the peace swung into action.