Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the violence that marred the rerun elections in the state was orchestrated by security agencies with a motive to making the state ungovernable for politically motivated reasons.
The Governor also announced that the Police High Command has arrested all his personal police details who accompanied him to stop SARS Commander Akin Fakorede from rigging Rivers East Senatorial District.
He said that all the said policemen have been detained in Abuja by the Police High Command.
The governor addressed members of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council who paid him a Goodwill Christmas Visit on Tuesday.
He said that the Police High Command is insisting that the policemen shouldn’t have accompanied him to stop Fakorede.
Governor Wike explained that he was compelled to take action because the previous day, policemen and soldiers were used by the APC at Ikwerre LGA to beat up PDP agents and force collation Officers to concoct results.
“The security agencies orchestrated plans to cause violence with a view to making the state ungovernable for ulterior motives.
“As I speak with you, all my personal police details who accompanied me to stop Fakorede from successfully rigging the Rivers East Senatorial District election have been arrested and detained in Abuja “.
The governor drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that Rivers State has been peaceful since the conclusion of the rerun elections.
He said: “Look at how peaceful Rivers State has become after the elections. Why was the election violent? It is because they wanted particular candidates to win and they wanted to rig in favour of such candidates.
“I was called to share seats. I said I will not participate in such a fraud. I insisted that the votes must count. Let everyone go for elections “
The governor berated INEC for conniving with APC to print fake result sheets ahead of the elections. He noted that INEC and Police have swept the matter under the carpet.
He informed that many INEC staff who were victims of violence by security agencies are under pressure from the electoral commission to deny the physical assault on them .
In his remarks, Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Opobo warned against the militarization of the electoral process.
He commended Governor Wike for always defending the rights of the people of the state.
He lauded Governor Wike for his developmental projects in the course of 2016, saying that his efforts have helped to improve the fortunes of the state.
High point of the goodwill visit was the special prayer offered by all the traditional rulers for Governor Wike’s protection and sustenance in office.