Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed disappointment at alleged unprofessional conduct of security personnel deployed for election duty accussing the Nigerian Army and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS) of the Nigerian Police of killing PDP agents, hijacking electoral materials and working to deliver a particular candidate in Rivers South-East Senatorial District .
The governor further added that no matter the use of the Nigerian Army and SARS personnel by the APC Government, Rivers State will never be conquered .
Governor Wike , reacting to the mass shootings by the Nigerian Army and the Police in Khana, Gokana , Akuku-Toru and Etche Local Government Areas on Election Day , Governor Wike said that the Security Agencies were deployed to the State to manipulate the result of the polls.
He said that true to the claim by the APC Governors and leaders that they will use Federal Might against the Rivers people, the military have been used to rig rerun elections in parts of the State .
The governor alleged that in Khana Local Government Area , election Materials for the entire Local Government Area were hijacked by the Nigerian Army and SARS personnel .
Governor Wike further claimed that in Gokana Local Government Area , soldiers allegedly hijacked election materials for Wards 2 and 3 in Bodo City where the military also said to have killed two persons in the process of fleeing with the materials.
The state Governor said that out of the 19 wards of Etche Local Government Area , soldiers and SARS personnel hijacked election materials for 4 wards.
He informed that One Mr Charles Anyanwu , Etche APC Chieftain has been arrested with two AK47. He noted that the security agencies may release him .
He went further claimed that the unfortunate onslaught by the military and SARS personnel started in the night of Friday,when the Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi backed by a battalion of soldiers and over 20 SARS personnel attempted to hijack materials from the Isiokpo INEC headquarters , but was resisted by youths.
Wike who addressed a cross section of Journalists said the attitude of security agencies have vindicated his earlier allegation that the opposition party was bent on winning the election by all means.
He thanked God that there was no loss of lives on Friday night at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area .
Governor Wike noted that in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area , soldiers hijacked election materials and took same to the home of an APC chieftain.
He said: “I anticipated it. I tried to let the world to know that these are the plans of the security agencies .
“In all my political career, I have never experienced this kind of invasion by security agencies . What causes violence is when you give certain persons undue advantage .
“Be assured that we are resisting it, it may take our lives, but we will resist to the last . That is what is expected , when you are fighting for freedom. You must make sacrifices.
“It is unfortunate that we are congratulating the opposition for winning in Ghana, but here the military are directly involved in rigging and hijacking materials . ”
The governor added: “They say that they want to give Rivers State Governor problems, but you are not giving Rivers State Governor problems, you are giving Nigeria problems”.
Governor Wike who deployed the use of drones to send digital pictures and datas during the election said has informed a National Commissioner of INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner on the problems in Khana Local Government Area and Gokana LGA and he was assured that action would be taken.
However,Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the legislative re-run elections, has commended the conduct of the state and national assembly re-run elections in Rivers South East Senatorial District particularly in Gokana Local Government Area.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 16 Unit 10 Bera in Gokana Local Government Area at about 11:55am, Abe said although he had got reports about few cases of late arrival of materials and ballot box snatching, which he said was promptly responded to by security operatives, so far the conduct appears impressive.
He commended the law enforcement agents for their vigilance and also used the opportunity to commend President Mohammadu Buhari and Service Chiefs for providing adequate security for the election.
He said the people turned out en masse to cast their votes without fear or favour because of the adequate security.
Abe thanked the people for coming out to express their choice and hoped that the election will be concluded without any challenges.
“Well, first of all, I want to express my sincere appreciation to President Mohammadu Buhari, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Army staff, Chairman of INEC, the people of Rivers South East Senatorial District and most importantly to Almighty God. Since this election started, this is the first time I am actually casting a ballot; this is the first time many of the people here are actually voting. Well, it is not a perfect exercise, there are cases of late arrival of materials and security challenges like we are getting report of hoodlums still having the audacity to come out to attack and try to hijack materials in some areas. But in all, the security responses have been prompt and adequate. The Nigerian government has tried to give everybody an opportunity to actually cast their ballot all across the senatorial district and that is because the people have been so eager to have an opportunity to vote.
They have been in fear, torment and now they are having an opportunity to actually do what other Nigerians and citizens of democracy do, which is just walk to polling station and cast their votes. For us this is a historic event. The kind of trauma people have passed through in the name of election in this state have been unprecedented. So, we are all very happy. We want to thank Almighty God, security agencies and INEC despite of all the inadequacies and complaints they have put up fairly impressive performance and I pray that the rest of the exercise, the collation and announcement of results which is the foundation of this whole thing would be peaceful and proper because up till now I still have not seen the returning officer but we are confident that whoever is the returning officer will also be on the way. We are hopeful that the exercise will be concluded properly”.