Governor Nyesom Wike

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, alleged that the Police High Command has transferred the case of printing of fake result sheets ahead of the rerun election to Police Zone 6, Calabar in order to bury the matter.

Governor accused the Police of plot to instigate violence in the state with its alleged move to frustrate the prosecution of persons linked with the alleged printing of fake Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, result sheets in the state.

The governor, who spoke at Government House, Port Harcourt, claimed that the Assistant Inspector- General of Police, AIG, Zone 6, Calabar, had asked that the matter be transferred to him, describing it as a clear move to frustrate thorough investigation of the matter.

He wondered why the Rivers State Police Command would not be able to handle the issue, alleging that before the AIG even asked that the matter be transferred to his office, there were allegations that the state Police command was under pressure to tamper with evidences on the matter.

Wike said: “Desperate efforts are being made to kill this matter. The AIG Zone 6 has asked for transfer of the matter to Zone 6. Who wrote petitions for this to be done? It is clear that All Progressives Congress, APC, wrote that the matter be handled by Zone 6. The whole idea is to see that prosecution is frustrated.”

The governor called on INEC to also stand up to demand that justice be done on the issue since it allegedly impinged on its integrity, saying, “We thought that this had to do with the credibility of INEC. We expect INEC to say, no this thing should be properly investigated because it touches on our credibility.

He enjoined the press not to allow the matter to be killed and ensure that justice must be done. All we are saying is that the Police here (Rivers State) cannot say they do not have capacity to investigate this matter. What is there to investigate? You have the evidence, names have been mentioned why not arrest them? All you hear is there is pressure from above. We will resist every move to frustrate the matter. We will not allow this to happen.”

Dakuku Peterside

In a swift reaction,however, Dr Dakuku Peterside,the Governorship candidate of APC in 2015 Governorship election and Director General of Nigerian Maritime And Safety Authority,NIMASA, said Governor Nyesom Wike is becoming increasingly restless and desperate to investigate, try and jail alleged printers of fake INEC documents all by himself.

He therefore advised the Governor to resign as Governor and join the ongoing recruitment of policemen by the Police Service Commission (PSC) where he can put his ‘expertise’ into use.

“Never have we had such a deceitful government in the history of the state. As at today, nobody has a copy of the state budget for 2016, not even members of the House of Assembly. Not too long ago, two of his commissioners appeared on a live radio programme and were asked by Rivers people where the state budget is, they admitted not knowing the budget of their respective ministries. Is that not a shame?

Ends

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