Rivers State governor, Sir Similanayi Fubara, has vowed hold Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector- General of Police, responsible if there is breakdown of law and order in state.
Daily Trust had reported how Fubara stormed
head office of the Rivers Independent National Electoral Commission (RISEC) in
the early hours of Friday to prevent an attempt to allegedly cart away
materials for Saturday’s Local Government election.
Speaking at a press conference in Port
Harcourt, on Friday, Fubara warned the IGP to be conscious of his role as head
of the police force.
The governor pointed out that the primary
responsibility of the police is to protect lives and properties, not to
barricade the premises of of electoral body.
“I am saying this here so that the IGP should
be aware and just to know that any action that will bring a situation of
lawlessness in this state and I think at the end of the day, he should be
prepared to take responsibility.
“In the early hours of this morning I got a
security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission office
had been invaded by the Nigerian Police. I was really surprised because before
that time, I got a copy of a signal withdrawing the police officers that were
guiding the premises. So, I had to drive to the premises myself since the
facility belongs to the Rivers State Government.”
“Getting to the scene and to the shock of
everyone who escorted me there, I met the presence of some fierce looking
policemen in one truck and three other empty vans trying to force their way
into the premises. And I had to stop them.
“In the course of that process, we discovered
that that movement was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force
Command, both the Rivers Command and the Headquarter to steal the election
materials. But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.
“Here are the questions. First, what is Rivers
State Independent Electoral Commission? It is a facility, it is an agency, is a
process that is controlled by the state government. It is a process, it is a
system that it is the law of the state that governs. Why is the case of Rivers
State different?
“The second part of it is what is the special
thing about this issue of taking over the premises? If we should go by what
they claim that they have a court order, the court ruling said don’t give RSIEC
voters register, don’t give RSIEC police protection. Did the judgement says
seal the premises, don’t allow them conduct election? However the Rivers State
Government and the RSIEC itself also had a judgement that states clearly to
conduct the election with the voters register of 2023.
“Police, DSS, Nigerian Army and other sister
agencies should provide security. I might not be a lawyer but I understand
clearly that when it comes to issue of judgment, there is something they call
first in time. So what is this special interest about the Federal High Court
judgment? Secondly why are they looking for a way to stampede this state?
“Why is the case of Rivers different? Is it
that the law or the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria when it
comes to Rivers State it’s interpreted in different way? Local government is
the affairs of the state government there is no federal institutions can
dictate in any form the way and manner our local government system should
operate talk less of coming to tell us that we cannot hold election or
otherwise. So, I have gathered you this morning to inform you that any attempt
by anyone or any security agencies to stop this election, we are prepared to
make sure that we resist it.”
Comments:
Leave a Reply