State Security: Rivers PDP Tackles APC

Following the reaction by the All Progressives Congress, (APC), on the security situation in parts of the state, alleging that until the current AIG,  and the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike are removed from office, the lives of innocent Rivers people, policemen and members of other security agencies will continue to be senselessly dispensed with without consequences, the Chairman, Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bro Felix Obuah has said that such position was unpatriotic, questionable, and should be investigated accordingly.
Obuah observed that rather than joining the government and other stakeholders to proffer solution to issues of criminality and security in the society, the APC leadership was relentlessly making efforts to cause havoc and create lawless situation in the state, by inciting the people and blackmailing the governor, the police and military authorities, as well as the leaders and members of the PDP in the state for selfish and ill-conceived political motive.
The PDP expressed concern that few weeks after one of the APC leaders, Magnus Abe, gave a directive to his supporters to take up arms against perceived enemies, the party has not left any one in doubt that all it wants by all means is to blackmail the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and all those perceived not to be supporting APC out of office, including causing security breaches in the state.
“The latest statement by the APC Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, signed by one Chris Fynebone, while reacting to the killing of five policemen attached to 30 PMF (Police Mobile Force), Yenagoa, on Monday, May 9, 2016, along the Okogbe – Yenagoa Road, to us, is one of such moves”,the PDP said.
Obuah argued that the APC leaders in the state and the party do not have better way than the PDP in tackling insecurity, violence and criminality in the state, recalling that before former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi left office, the state was in shambles, with people being kidnapped, and communal crises on the rise.
“However,  it is not our intention to point accusing fingers at any one or group at the moment when investigations in the incident and related ones are still ongoing, but we are forced to be worried about certain statements and declarations by APC leaders in recent times, which pose more threat to the peace and security of our state and the nation at large” the party said.
“The PDP has continued to draw the attention of the police and other security agencies to some unpatriotic and ill-conceived actions by the last APC government under Amaechi, particularly the release of hardened criminals and political thugs, who were being held for various criminal charges in prison, as well as the recent directive by Magnus Abe after the March 19, 2016 re-run elections in the state that his supporters should take up arms.
“We recall that on hearing this directive by Abe, we (the PDP) alerted the police on the understanding that this call was an invitation for the APC thugs to use arms and ammunition already procured and were in their possession, to cause insurrection and havoc in the state.
“It is not in doubt that the APC leadership under Davies Ikanya has consistently preferred violence to peace and order in their political activities in the state”, the PDP said.
“Meanwhile, the PDP has commiserated with the Inspector General of Police and the entire Nigerian Police Force over this latest ambush resulting in loss of lives of these gallant and committed men of the Force.
“We are much worried considering the trend of events in the country today, and the enormous challenges it poses to the security forces. We are not unaware of the relentless and huge sacrifices men of the Nigerian Police Force continue to demonstrate, even in the face of heinous calamities like this that they experienced in course of carrying out their professional duty, particularly in confronting crimes and violence in the society. These sacrifices are quite commendable”, the party stated.
The PDP also expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased, and called on the police authorities not to be deterred by the incident but to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.
The party pledged to continue to cooperate with and support the law enforcement agencies in efforts to rid the state of criminals and to maintain peace and security in communities.