Current IGP cannot guarantee security for credible election in 2019, says Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has declared that Nigeria would not be able to conduct free, fair, and credible elections if the Police under the current Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr. Abrahim Idris, refused to change their operational mentality.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt , when he granted audience to the Rivers State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Mr. Omotayo Adewoye, Governor Wike alleged that the current Inspector-General of Police believed that he could only retain his office when he rigged for the governing party.

The governor also berated the NYSC for “deliberately refusing to make public the mass abductions of corps members by the Police and security agencies during the December 10, 2016, legislative rerun elections in the state.

According to the governor, “Nigeria cannot conduct free and fair elections, if the Police do not change their attitude. With the present Inspector-General of Police, we cannot have free and fair elections. The IGP believes that he can only retain his position, if he rigs elections and help to deliver a particular party.”

Governor Wike said that Rivers people have become aware of the modus operandi of the Police and other security agencies, pointing out that the alleged rigging that took place on December 10, 2016, “as facilitated by the Police would never happen again.”

The governor alleged that the Nigerian Police had condescended to the abysmal level of plotting blackmail schemes against Rivers State and her people.

He said Rivers State has been peaceful since elections were over, alleging that the conflicts during elections were deliberately generated by the police to create an atmosphere for rigging.

Commenting on the welfare of the NYSC, Governor Wike announced that the State would construct a new State Secretariat for the Scheme at Greater Port Harcourt which would be named after late Corps Member, Mr. Samuel Chukwudumebi Okonta, a graduate of political Science of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, who was brutally murdered in the March 19, 2016, re-run election.

The governor directed the Secretary to the Rivers State Government to liaise with the State Coordinator of NYSC to work out an improved regime of allowances for Corps members to be implemented by his administration.

He also announced the donation of a bus to NYSC Rivers State. He said that the administration would expand facilities at the NYSC Permanent Orientation at Tai LGA.

Earlier, the Rivers State Coordinator of the NYSC,Mr. Adewoye appreciated the governor’s support for the scheme and said that the governor as a performer has impacted positively on the activities of the NYSC