FG Plans To Disrupt Polls In Rivers, A’Ibom -Wike … Insists On Plot To Plant 800 Guns In Rivers … Seeks Int’l Community’s Intervention

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the APC Federal Government working in liaison with security agencies plan to disrupt 2019 Governorship Elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States.
Governor Wike stated that the motive is to mobilise the Federal Government’s rigging security apparatus from all other states to the two states on a later date for the manipulation of the two strategic governorship elections.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Petri, the Rivers State Governor urged the European Union to pay closer attention to the two elections.
”When I raised an alarm that the Federal Government is plotting to plant 800 guns in Rivers State to destabilise the state, it is the truth. It is real.
”The Federal Government working with the security agencies is planning to disrupt the 2019 Governorship Elections in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. They want to ensure that the elections don’t hold with other states, so that they can mobilise security agencies to manipulate the results”, he said.
Governor Wike had raised the alarm that the APC Federal Government has concluded plans to plant 800 guns in the state, with the objective of destabilising Rivers State.
In a statement signed by Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor was quoted as saying that the APC Federal Government resolved to implement the plot during her last security meeting.
He stated that the intelligence came from credible sources that were privy to the ugly plot against Rivers State.
The governor called on the international community to take note of the proposed illegal action of the APC Federal Government, which is aimed at creating crisis in the state.
He regretted that the APC Federal Government has continued to work deliberately to compromise the security of Rivers State.
Governor Wike urged the people of the state to remain calm, but vigilant. He added that the evil machinations of the APC Federal Government will not distract the state from delivering on her constitutional responsibilities to Rivers people.
Meanwhile, the governor noted that the international community must work with Nigerians to ensure that what happened in Osun State is not repeated in the Niger Delta.
Governor Wike said that if INEC and Police can allow 55 percent free and fair elections, Nigerians will be happy.
”As members of the European Union, we want you to use your position to prevail on INEC and security agencies to allow the will of the people.
”Manipulating the electoral process is corruption. This administration claims that it is fighting corruption, but that is not true. When a PDP member defects, the issue of corruption against him ends”, he said.
The governor stated that the President has refused to sign the amended Electoral Act because they have ulterior motive.
On the Clean Up of Ogoni, Governor Wike, said the claim by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP ) that it is set to clean up Ogoni is an obvious ploy by the APC- led Federal Government to deceive the people.
Wike said: “ If you talk about HYPRED I don’t believe. How come it is only when we are about conducting elections that the issue of Ogoni clean up comes up.
“Government cannot continue to deceive our people. Each time there is election, Ogoni kingdom will come up, and when election is over , the issue is over “.
Wike expressed doubt that HYPRED that has been relaxing for years wound suddenly wake up to say it is now prepared for the clean because election is coming up.
The governor also described corruption fight by the Federal Government as biased.
He said that the Federal Government has always come out to deceive Nigeria and the International community that they are fighting corruption but that it is only using EFCC to intimidate opposition party members.
He explained that when members of the opposition who are being investigated by the anti graph agency decamp to the ruling APC, they are let off the hook but when APC members decamp to PDP they became targets of prosecution .
He accused INEC of planning to shift election in Rivers State and Akwa Ibom to enable them manipulate the election result stressing that the two states were key targets of the commission.
“ We want our people to decide who will govern them. INEC should let us
Know how prepared they are to conduct free and fair election “
He told the visiting ambassador not to rely on the promise of INEC, saying that the commission has never shown any convincing prove that it is ready for a free fair and transparent election in 2019.
“ You watched what happened in Osun ? What mechanism is INEC putting in place to ensure that what happened in Osun will not repeat itself?, Wike said.
Wike who alleged that Rivers state is their target maintained that as far as free and fair election was concerned he and most members of the opposition parties have no confidence in INEC.
The governor commended the Ambassador for the contributions Netherlands was making in the development of Nigeria and said the state is prepared to partner with Netherlands to move the state forward.
Stressing that the state is relatively calm, the governor urged investors from Netherlands to take advantage of the huge agricultural potentials.
In his remarks, the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Robert Petri assured that the European Union will closely monitor the forthcoming elections to ensure they are credible.
”We are getting closer to the General Elections which are very important . We need free and fair elections conducted under a peaceful environment.
”The European Union, which we are part of, will be sending monitors for the Presidential and Governorship Elections. It is important that the elections are conducted in a friendly environment “, the governor said.
He said that the Government of Netherlands is happy that the clean up of Ogoni land.

By: Chris Oluoh