A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations has said Governor Nyesom Wike should not be excluded of the blames in the current security situation in Rivers State, saying he was not helping security agencies to curb the menace of insecurity pervading the state.
The group said its assessment of security situation in Rivers State showed that Governor Wike “chooses personal rather than national security, peace and security of his people”, wondering why he should do that.
This was even as it questioned the allegations of attempted murder, gross human rights violations, arbitrary arrest, among others, levelled against the General Officer Commanding,GOC 6 Division,by the governor, saying it is false.
The group,under the aegis of Calition for Peace and Good Governance,COPAG,said in a press statement, Friday evening,that its position was informed by on-the-spot assessment of the communities of Rivers State as well as views expressed by both community leaders and other stakeholders during its just concluded visit to the state.
The statement explained that the fact-finding visit by a team of seven men, was led to Port-Harcourt by Amb. Melvin Ejeh, Executive Director of Global Peace and Life Rescue Initiative,GOPRI,and Dr Isaac Pepple of Action Against Injustice,AAI.
“COPAG described the allegations of Governor Nyesome Wike of River State against the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Port-Harcourt, Major General Jamil Sarham and his men as falsehood.
COPAG explained that it decided to visit the state for a first-hand information given the recent allegations against the GOC 6 Division in particular but the Nigerian Army as a whole by the governor.
In the statement signed by Amb. Melvin Ejeh, it said:”We were worried by Wike’s continued allegations against the person of Major General Sarham and the Army under his Command in River State to the international community, Nigeria’s civil society organizations,the press among others which bother on the attempt on his life, gross human rights violation, aiding of a political party, arbitrary arrest of Rivers State Government officials,
” We immediately swung into action with a view to carrying out independent and detailed investigation to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of all the allegations and report back to Nigerians.”
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“We met all the relevant stakeholders and visited all communities mentioned hence the following facts emerged that the allegations of attempted murder, gross human rights violations, arbitrary
arrest, and aiding of a political party by Governor Nyesome Wike of River State against the GOC 6 Division is not only false but a sharp departure from the reality on ground,”the stressed in the statement.
It added:”The check point mounted by Army which Governor Wike complained about was mounted before Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, which is about 100 meters or more to the Government House and found that the intention was to assist an agency to prevent a financial crime which was reported to the agency.
“There is no direct or indirect attack or threat on the life of the governor of River State at any time by the GOC or the Army.”
Commenting on the allegation of arrest of River State Government’s officials by the army,the group said it found out that ” the only arrests that were made was the arrest of a serving commissioner in the state who was trying to bribe an Army Major at Ubiama Checkpoint, and a serving Senior Special Assistant to the governor somewhere around CBN for the same offence of attempted bribery of military men on lawful duties.”
“The other arrest were persons who violated the ban of movement placed by River State Government on the eve of the last election between 12am to 6pm, and all the suspects were promptly handed over to appropriate security agencies for prosecution,”it added.
Also commenting on governor’s allegation of human rights violation againt the army, the group said:”Nothing can be far from the truth like this allegations, all our findings proved that the Army in Rivers State under the Command of General Sarham has conducted itself in the most orderly,civilized and professional manner with strict adherence to human rights protection in spite of the high level provocation by criminals and other state actors.”
The group further said, “Governor Wike’s allegations against General Sarham, GOC 6 Division and the Army is baseless, calculated, malicious and the highest form of falsehood which is meant to demoralized and discredit the officers and men of the division to pave way for criminals and illegality to thrive during the 2019 elections.
“The Governor’s constant attack on the GOC is because of his non- compromise stands on issues of security of lives and properties,”it alleged.
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