Democracy And Insecurity In Rivers State

INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega (right), presenting INEC bag to the Acting IG, Mr Solomon Arase, during his first visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, recently.

Democracy has
been given different conceptualization by various scholars, but it is known fact that the generally acceptable concept of democracy has been a representative government truly elected by the people for the people.
Nigeria has had chequered history with democracy dating to the formation of the first political party in 1922 by late Herbert Macaulay, the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP).
Democratic governance was ushered into Nigeria with the attainment of Independence in 1960 from the British colonial government.
The democratic governance between 1960-1966 was short-lived following the military coup d’état of January 1967 led by Major Nzeogwu.
Nigerians again had a second shot at democratic governance between October 1, 1979 to December 31, 1983 with the overthrow of President Shehu Shagari’s government.
The regime of military president Ibrahim Babangida had been described as a political experimentation period not until 1999 when the nation’s nascent democracy was ushered with the peoples representatives freely elected by the people, presiding over the affairs of governance at various levels of government.
However, here in Rivers State created 48 years ago, the dawn of democracy in 1999 led to the election of Sir Peter Odili as the Executive Governor from 1999 – 2007.
By 2007, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi through the Supreme Court judgement of October 25, 2007 was declared the duly elected governor of the state.
Democracy has thrived through good governance, transparency and accountable government as exemplified by the administration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
Democracy in the state has had it challenges with incessant politically motivated killings. No doubt these incessant killings across the state had posed security challenges to lives, properties and democracy in the state.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state these alleged politically motivated killings resulted in the killing of the All Progressive Congress (APC) youth leader, Mr Clever Orukwuowu, who was murdered on the day of the governorship election in the state.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, the late APC youth leader’s wife, Mrs Ruth Clever Orukwuowu said the murder of her husband was very sad and a gory act of politically motivated killing.
She told The Tide that on April 10, her husband had just finished accreditation when some gunmen in military camouflage invaded Unit 5 in Idu Community and killed him in the presence of other voters.
In Obrikom in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, a former chairman of the council, late Chief Christopher Adube was killed with is children, driver and cousin in April, 2015.
Also speaking to The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt, a victim who narrowly escaped death by whiskers, Mr Blessing Nwuchigbo said family house was razed down in Ozuzu Etche Local Government Area of the state.
Nwuchigbo who was supervisory councilor in the local government said on March 19, 2015 before the elections, suspected members of a rival political party invaded his family house and razed it down.
He told our correspondent to that nothing has been done to apprehend the culprits despite reporting the matter to police divisional headquarters at Okehi.
Again, speaking with The Tide, Hon Loveday Onuwa, said categorically that suspected Peoples Democratic Party supporters in Etche came to his community Ozuzu and burnt down his properties.
Onuwa said the police was yet to arrest the political thugs of the rival party till down.
Unfortunately, on the duty of the Governorship/State House of Assembly a promising star in Egbema community Barr Orlando Worbuchi was gruesomely murdered in day light by suspected murders of a rival political party in Emohua local government area.
However, Mrs Orukwuowu, a 41-year old mother of seven children is crying from justice over her husband’s death.
She told The Tide that she has taken her case before the Prof Idikalu Probe Panel set up by the state government.
She is equally urging the police to protect her and her family because she feared that the gunmen might still come for her and her children.
Nwuchigbo and Onuwa told The Tide that they want police protection from her Rivers State police command and adequate compensation for their undivided properties destroyed by the suspected practical thugs.
However, it behoves the incoming government to protect lives and properties in the state for the citizens to freely move about as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It is herculean task that requires government prompt decisive attention to end these politically motivated killings.

Philip Okparaji