Wike’s actions capable of truncating 2019 polls, group warns
The threat made by Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers state that the 2019 general elections will be like a tsunami is capable of truncating the nation’s democracy, the Concerned Democrats of Conscience (CDC) has warned.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, National President of CDC, Alhaji Ibrahim Modibbo said that there is no alternative to a vibrant democracy where government is held accountable and where the electoral process is credible.
He however expressed worry at recent events in Rivers state before and after the December 10 re-run polls, especially the level of violence and brazen impunity exhibited before the polls and the comments credited to the state governor regarding what to expect during the 2019 general elections.
Modibbo stated that while the federal government hasn’t displayed any tendency indicating its desperation in winning elections at all costs as evidenced in the recent elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he is concerned with the attitude of Gov. Wike which according to him poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
“While aligning ourselves with the conclusions of international observers and civil society groups that the December 10 elections were seen to be credible and. Ours pass the litmus test of transparency, we are however worried by the post-election statements of Governor Wike to the effect that 2019 elections will be tsunami.
“We are concerned that the governor is becoming famous for violence with unguarded utterances that reduces the serious art of governance to the level of student unionism.
“If not checked by the powers that be, Governor Wike has the phenomenal capacity to truncate this democracy as his new-found love of violence as electoral strategy will see Nigeria return to the Stone Age or the dark days of African despots,” he added.
The national president further condemned the posture of the Rivers governor to unleash terror on two senior police officers accused by him of colluding with and working for the All Progressive Congress (APC) during the re-run elections.
“Given his antecedents, Governor Wike is not one that dispenses empty threats. Any attempt to harm the two police officers, we shall hang their fate on the doorstep of the governor.
“The CDC is raising this alarm because since the coming into office of Wike, Rivers state has never known peace as violence arising from the activities of cultists, kidnappers and organized terror groups took the center stage,” Modibbo said.
Aligning with the position of foreign countries calling for an inquiry into the use of incendiary language, intimidation, violence and politically motivated killings in Rivers state during the just concluded polls, the CDC questioned the rationale behind the the governor’s decision to boycott the activities of the investigative panel instituted by the inspector general of police to look into the killing of police officers and other unwholesome acts that characterized the re-run elections.
He appealed to the police boss not to succumb to the subtle blackmail of Wike in demanding for the transfer of some police officers considered disloyal because of their alleged romance with the APC.
According to him, the inspector general of police is not answerable to the state governor, asserting that “with short-sighted leaders with short fuse, who says that Nigeria is ripe for state police.”
