Rivers rerun: Security agencies plotted to make Rivers ungovernable ----Wike

Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike  (r) receiving a document from the Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, King Dandeson Jaja, Amayanabo of Opobo during a Goodwill Christmas Visit on the governor by traditional rulers on Tuesday in Government House, Port Harcourt. 

(Nigeria) Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike has said 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  was insisting that the  policemen  shouldn't have accompanied  him to stop Fakorede. 

Cross Section of Traditional Rulers during a Goodwill Christmas Visit on the governor  on Tuesday in Government House, Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike explained that  he was compelled to take action  because  the previous day, policemen and soldiers were used by the APC at Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state to beat up Peoples Democratic Party, 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 Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conniving with All Progressives Congress, 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 Wike  for his developmental projects in the course of 2016, saying that  his efforts  have helped to improve  the  fortunes of the state.

Highpoint  of the goodwill  visit was the special prayer offered by all the traditional  rulers  for Wike’s  protection and sustenance in office.