Wike seeks good governance to curb escalation of political tension

Good governance is the only way out of the political tension currently ravaging the country. This was the assertion of the governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, speaking at the 57th Independence Church Service at the Saint Mark’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The governor stated that unless Nigerians experienced good governance at the Federal Level, agitations would continue across different parts of the country.

He said that Rivers State was not part of any agitation for secession but added that in as much as the country continued to have bad governance, people would continue to agitate.

Wike said: “We give God the glory that we are still one, despite the agitations and challenges. God has blessed this country. We are not part of those who want to secede. Rivers State will never be part of that.”

The governor, however, pointed out that the country could not continue with “the current level of impunity and injustice,” saying that it was time for the right thing to be done.

“People must speak out that what is going on is not correct. Under this dispensation, votes no longer count. I have faith that we will come out of the present predicament,” he said.

The governor explained that one of the reasons why politicians acted irrationally was because they knew that Police and INEC could manipulate results in their favour.

He called for better security and justice for all the federating units to give all Nigerians a sense of belonging and de-escalate tension across the land. He reiterated his call for the investigation of the alleged criminal activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, which he said “had become a notorious criminal gang.”

Delivering his sermon, the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, said Nigeria had developed despite her many challenges and urged Nigerians to respect the laws of the country, support constituted authorities, and work for the growth of the country.

The Independence Church Service attracted top government officials, security agencies, and traditional rulers.