The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that a statement by Gov. Nyesom Wike, signed by his media assistant, Simeon Nwakaudu, on the ongoing security operations by security forces to neutralise known criminals in dark spots across Rivers State, was a “deliberate and mischievous misrepresentation’ to shield criminal allies of the government.
In the said statement, Gov. Nyesom Wike vigorously tried to paint the wrong picture of politics on otherwise purely security operations hopefully contrived by security agencies in response to the fast degenerating security situation in Rivers State.
According to the APC, “under normal circumstances, the state governor and his government should have risen in support of the ongoing exercise especially as security of lives and property are the primary responsibility of government anywhere in the world.
APC, however, regretted that “unfortunately, Governor Nyesom Wike and his PDP in Rivers State have resorted to the highest form of blackmail against security agencies by claiming that locations the security agents have raided to arrest criminals belong to their members and that the criminals being sought for are PDP members.”
The APC noted that, “if truly the criminals being sought for by security agents are indeed members of the PDP as claimed by the governor, then this confirms the widely held opinion that the State government and its highly placed officials are behind the rising spate of killings, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other dangerous crimes across Rivers State.
“Again, there is no denying the fact that the criminal kingpins responsible for the various crimes in Rivers State were same persons Nyesom Wike and his PDP people used to unleash mayhem on Rivers people and residents before, during and after the 2015 general elections.”
The APC in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said in all locations so far covered by the security operations, various illegal weapons and other materials have been reportedly recovered by security agents.
At the Abuja Estate Waterside, arms and ammunition were discovered and retrieved. Similar discoveries including 669 PVCs were made by security agents at locations in Degema and Buguma belonging to the Asari-Toru Caretaker Chairman, Egberi Papa.
At Yeghe, Gokana home of Solomon Ndigbara alias Osama bin Ladin, various guns and materials were recovered. The ONELGA abode of the notorious kingpin, Don Wannie, various sophisticated arms and ammunition were also recovered.
The statement stressed that “The question the APC and well-meaning people are asking is this: is Governor Nyesom Wike saying that these individuals he claims to be his PDP members have any legal right to keep firearms, ammunition and other persons’ Permanent Voters Cards in their possession?
“Let the governor and his party accept that there can never be peace and security in Rivers State as long as those behind such insecurity are allies and members of the party in charge of the state government. This is the highest level of conflict of interest to the collective detriment of the peace-loving people and residents of Rivers State.
“The APC wishes to strongly condemn the deliberate politicisation of simple and clear security operations being undertaken by security agents at great risk to their lives in order to stem the high level of insecurity presently bedevilling our dear state. Indeed this is the height of mischief by the state governor and his party, the PDP.
“The APC called on the proud and courageous people of Rivers State not to be deceived and cowed by threats or blinded by filthy blood money from the outgoing state governor and the criminals he illegally appointed as Caretaker Chairmen but to stand up and raise their voice in support of ongoing legitimate actions of security agencies aimed at restoring sanity in Rivers State and secure lives and property.”
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