Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has said he will not join issues with Governors and the PDP alleging that the Police was working with opposition against Governor Nyesom Wike by removing his security details ahead of Saturday’s re-run election.
Speaking in Abuja at a meeting with DIGs, AIGs and Commissioners of Police, the IGP said, “I don’t want to trade words over allegations against the police on the pages of Newspapers. We have 36 states governors in this country. I think we have good relations with all of them”.
He said that as part of security arrangements for the re-run elections, a Deputy Inspector General of Police will be deployed to Rivers State today (Tuesday), while he (IGP) will be in Port Harcourt on Thursday to hold a meeting with Stake-holders.
He directed all Commissioners of the four neighbouring states to Rivers, to report to Port Harcourt on Thursday to witness the briefing he will give to officers and men that will be deployed for the elections.
Recall that Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose recently condemned the removal of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike less than five days to the State’s legislative re-run election.
Fayose said, “With this ignoble action by the federal government, it is now clear that the federal government is out to subvert the will of the people of Rivers State by whatever means in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
Governor Fayose, also alerted the international community on the imminent danger being posed to Nigeria by the APC-led federal government.
He said, “Nigeria deserves total attention from the international community at this time. The international community should not look the other way while those holding power in Abuja plunge the country into crisis of international magnitude”.
Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, quoted the governor as saying that it was getting clearer that Governor Wike was right when he claimed that there was a plot to assassinate him before Saturday.
“The governor said President Mohammadu Buhari should be reminded that he sworn to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of the party they belong to.
“How can anyone tamper with security aides of a State Governor without his consent? How can the Chief Security Officer of a state governor be changed without the consent of the governor? Isn’t it now clear that they actually want to kill Governor Wike before the Saturday election? he queried.
Governor Fayose, who said all steps being taken by the federal government were geared towards turning Nigeria to a one party State, warned that “Nigeria can never be turned to a one party State and if care is not taken, by the time this house of democracy is destroyed by the APC cabal, no one will be spared.”
He said those trying to impose their will on the people by whatever means must leant from history, especially what happened in Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 and where it led Nigeria to.
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