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Rivers Election Tragedy: IPAC Exposes GOC’s Dirty Role …Urges Buhari To Call Sarham To Order
With the dust yet to settle in the ill-fated rescheduled Presidential election held across the country, last Saturday, more than 77 political parties in Rivers State have exposed the ignoble Army brutality visited on Rivers people, commandeered by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham.
The political parties, under the aegis of the Rivers State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in a press briefing held in Port Harcourt, yesterday, described Saturday, 23rd February, 2019, as “black, bloodiest and saddest day in the election history of the state” as, according to them, the Army decided to be overly partisan in breach of their abiding duty to be neutral and provide security for the electoral process.
In a statement jointly signed by the state chairmen of all 76 political parties and read by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Kukang Ledum Joseph, Rivers IPAC said the Army’s action in Rivers State was in total defiance to the assurance given by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim that the Army will not be directly involved in the 2019 General Election process.
They noted that Governor Nyesom Wike and several other stakeholders had repeatedly alerted the nation on the planned partisan involvement of the Army in the election process in Rivers State, adding that all these apparently fell on deaf ears as GOC, Jamil Sarham flagrantly fraternized with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State to rig, snatch election materials, harass collation officers and force them to allocate bogus results to the APC.
According to them, rather than respond to these weighty allegations against the GOC, invectives were poured on Wike and PDP stakeholders, calling them false alarmists crying wolf where there were none.
“But alas, here we are with the disastrous consequences of the failure of the military authorities and the INEC to reprimand and call to order the GOC and his soldiers of destruction that they deployed to Rivers State for unlawful election duties”, the statement read.
According IPAC, “What on earth can justify the killing of as many as 16 unarmed civilians by the Army in a rustic community, which members were barely insisting on their participatory rights and freedom to exercise their franchise in the face of the brazen onslaught by APC thugs to scuttle the electoral process”.
The Rivers IPAC further alleged that aside the brutal killing of over 18 innocent civilians, including an INEC ad-hoc staff and an NYSC member, the soldiers prevented the general election from holding in Akuku-Toru LGA and parts of Asari-Toru and Degema LGA.
“Major General Jamil Sarham’s soldiers also supported APC thugs to snatch election materials and prevented the elections from holding in the whole of Bonny LGA and parts of Ahoada West and Okrika LGAs”, they said while also lamenting the mayhem visited on Emohua and Ikwerre LGAs by the marauding soldiers.
The over 77 political parties said it was obvious that the direct partisan involvement of the Army led to the cancellation of elections in six local government areas of the state, wondering the legitimacy of the results eventually turned in and declared by INEC for Rivers State in the face of the wanton killings, snatching of election materials and the other electoral maladies resulting from the elections across the state.
The group expressed fears that by brazenly betraying the public trust, the Army can no longer be trusted by the people of Rivers State to be neutral in the electoral process in the state, adding that even the forthcoming Governorship and state House Assembly elections in Rivers State was also at risk.
According to the Rivers IPAC: “On Thursday, 7th February, 2019, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim briefed the press in Abuja, and assured Nigerians that the Army will not be directly involved in the 2019 general election process.
“According to him: ‘…the Armed Forces of Nigeria wish to re-affirm its neutrality, impartiality and strict adherence to professional code of conduct before, during and after the general election.
‘Therefore, we would like to reiterate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria will carry out its constitutional duties with zero tolerance to unprofessional conduct. No military personnel are expected to fraternize with any political parties and associations.’
The IPAC said that “in the week and days preceding last Saturday’s rescheduled elections, the governor of Rivers State and several other stakeholders repeatedly alerted the nation on the planned partisan involvement of the Army in the election process in Rivers State.
“Specifically, it was revealed that the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Jamil Sarham was fraternizing with leaders of Rivers State APC to rig, snatch election materials, harass collation officers and force them to allocate bogus results to the APC.
“Despite the wide publicity they attracted, neither the Chief of Army Staff, the Chairman of the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nor the principal accused, Major General Jamil Sarham reacted to these weighty and very troubling allegations.
“Instead, the governor of Rivers State and the PDP stakeholders were maligned and regarded as false alarmists crying wolf where there were none but alas, here we are with the disastrous consequences of the failure of the military authorities and the INEC to reprimand and call to order the GOC and his soldiers of destruction that they deployed to Rivers State for unlawful election duties.
“Thus, Saturday, 23rd February, 2019, will forever remain in the memory of Rivers people as a black and bloody Saturday in the election history of the state simply because the Army decided to be overly partisan in breach of their abiding duty to be neutral and provide security for the electoral process.
“What on earth can justify the killing of as many as 16 unarmed civilians by the army in a rustic community, which members were barely insisting on their participatory rights and freedoms in the face of the brazen onslaught by APC thugs to scuttle the electoral process?”
The Rivers IPAC appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai and the international community to prevail on the Army to stay away from election duties in Rivers State and allow the police to perform their constitutional responsibilities for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the state.
Fubara gave the assurance last Friday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area in the State, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2026 Batch B Stream II orientation course.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Promise Oguzie, the governor said the State Government would remain intentional in providing the necessary support to improve the NYSC scheme and enhance the experiences of corps members deployed to the state.
He charged the corps members to be role models and quality nation-builders in their service to the good people of Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria at large.
“I charge you to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all you do. Take full advantage of all the camp programmes and activities to enrich yourselves”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps members to see their deployment to Rivers State as a “veritable opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the growth of the State in particular and Nigeria at large.”
He further charged them to serve with all sense of “integrity, discipline, and the fear of God, especially when they will be engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff that will conduct the 2027 general elections.”
A total of 3,584 corps members composed of 1,421 males and 2,163 females were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who was represented by Justice Godspower Aguma.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor
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