Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said the Federal Government has laid the foundation for violence and crisis in the 2019 general elections, citing the transfer in and out of the state the newly promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Akin Fakorede, who he claimed was an indicted election manipulator.
Wike who spoke during a courtesy visit by the participants of Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 Study Group Three from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru in Port Harcourt on Monday noted that Fakorede was transferred out of Rivers on March 29, but re-posted to the state on April 4, 2018.
The governor said the newly promoted police officers was reposted to the state for the purpose of carrying out criminal electoral activities.
Wike said ACP Fakorede was indicted on page 66 of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Report into Rivers Rerun Elections.
According to him, the police officers was accused of electoral fraud, violence and ballot box snatching and abduction of INEC officials.
“The man was given special promotion as a reward for the job he did for the police in Rivers State during the rerun. He has been transferred back to the state in preparation for their planned manipulation of the 2019 general election. They brought him back because of his expertise in ballot box snatching and election violence.
“The federal government has laid the foundation for crisis and violence in 2019. They are the ones who perpetrate crisis. We are peace makers that is why we are drawing the attention of the international community to these actions,” the governor said.
Wike said the deliberate political actions of the federal government has compromised the security architecture of states.
“What we have seen in most cases is that security lapses are a result of political interference,” he said.
He also defended the decision of his administration to establish the Neighbourhood Safety Corps which he said was fashioned alongside similar outfit in Lagos State.
“The federal government security agencies lack the personnel and equipment to provide security for all communities. The Neighbourhood Safety Corps will complement their efforts. Apart from payment of salaries, the state government funds the logistics and operations of the security agencies,” he said.