False reports on political killings sponsored by misguided politicians – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the  reports of alleged massive insecurity  and political  killings before the rerun  elections were concocted  by misguided  politicians  to mislead Nigerians.

Picture: Wike presenting souvenir to Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Army, Mr Kwewum during the visit by the  committee  to the  state  on a  fact finding mission following killing of Ogoni people by the Army

He declared  that Rivers State  is  largely  peaceful  with increasing  internally  generated  revenue, IGR, that indicate that businesses  are thriving  and functional. 

He spoke when he granted  audience to Members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Army on Monday investigating the military  invasion  of  Ogoni communities.

Governor Wike said  that  after the  rerun  elections the sponsored propaganda  reports no longer dominate the media because  there are no political killings  in  the state. 

He said : “Before  the  rerun  elections,  you heard of repeated reports of alleged political killings  sponsored  by  misguided  politicians.

“Now that they elections  are over, you no longer  see such reports.

“Like every other  state, we have  our security  challenges,  but we don’t  have  political  killings.

“We have  cases of cult related  violence,  but the security  agencies  are tackling  the  issue frontally with the support  of  the  Rivers State Government “.

He decried  the  tendency  to play politics with  security.

He noted that the security  challenges  in the state were prompted by the politicisation of the  state’s security  framework.

“We have  a secure  state where businesses  are thriving.  

“That is why  our internally generated  revenue is growing regularly”, he added. 

In his remarks,  the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Army, Mr Rimamde Shawulu Kwewum said that the committee  was in the state on a fact finding  mission.

That was following  a petition  against  the  army by the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO,  on the killings  of  Ogoni  people in their communities. 

He said that the committee  was not in the state to apportion blame.

Rather, are there to determine  what led to the alleged death of 24 persons during  the  military  invasion. 

He said : “We are not  here to defend  any political  party. 

“The life of any person  is important,  irrespective  of  his political  party “

The Federal lawmaker  informed the governor  that the committee would hold public hearing and also visit the affected communities. 

It will be recalled  that  the military  in February invaded Yeghe,  Zaakpo, Bori and Babbe.

Simeon Nwakaudu

Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media

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