Partner RSG To Improve Security, Wike Urges Monarchs …Recommits To Speedy Dispensation Of Justice

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on traditional rulers to work with the state and local government areas to improve security across the state in order to fast track the development process.
Wike also declared that the Rivers State Government would formally launch the new security architecture of the on Friday.
He spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, when he declared open the 110 and 111 quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
The governor said: ‘I wish to reiterate that our traditional rulers bear enormous moral and legal responsibilities to work with the local and state governments to secure the state and fast-track development and progress to their communities.
“It bears repeating that you have no moral claim to your traditional titles, authority and reverence if you cannot guide, mentor, persuade and prevail on your youths to shun all forms of criminality and take your communities to an enviable heights of peace and socio-economic transformation under your reign”.
Wike urged the traditional rulers to take concrete actions towards improving security in their communities.
He said the criminal elements disturbing security and peaceful existence of the state live in communities and can be fished out with strong local intelligence and commitment.
“I wish to again assure you all that Rivers State is in safe hands under our guide and we will continue to do our best to protect its political interests grow the economy and advance its development and progress more than ever until our very last day in office.
“What we need from you is to mobilize your subjects and communities for development and partner with the state government to enable our youths to realize their full potential and self-actualization as responsible citizens”, he said.
He thanked the traditional rulers who stood by his administration with courage during the most trying period to resist and frustrate the evil plan by the enemies of Rivers people to install their puppets in power and again subject the state’s common resources to mindless plunder.
He said: “I assure you with all confidence that they have been defeated and by God’s grace, they will remain defeated and subdued forever as nothing would come out of the cases they are currently sponsoring at the Election Petition Tribunal against us, which are all bound to woefully collapse like a pack of cards.
“As you all know, in the last four years we paid special and deliberate focus on bridging the gap on infrastructure, especially roads, education and healthcare delivery. As a result, many roads, educational and healthcare projects have been delivered, and many more are at their last completion stages and due to be commissioned in the first 100 days of our second term in office”.
Commenting on OML 25, Wike said he supports the development of local companies, but noted that the right thing must be done at all times.
He said if the Federal Government had given the company owned by a Rivers son the license for OML 25, the state government would have supported the company totally.
“If the Federal Government had given our son the license for OML 25, I would have been happy. But the Federal Government gave the license to Shell. Now, people were hired and they stopped operations for two years.
“Government called the Amanyanabo of Kula and others for a meeting, preached peace. Simply because of kobo, the man changed his position. Is that the kind of person you want the state government to give Staff of Office? A traditional ruler that will come before the government and sign an agreement, and then go back to say that he is withdrawing his signature”, he said.
In his address, the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja urged Governor Nyesom Wike to make traditional rulers part of the new security architecture of the state.
He said: “Traditional Rulers appreciate all the efforts you are making at curbing crime in our State and are prepared to participate in all these efforts by the state government to stem the tide of insecurity in the state. We therefore implore you to make use of capable members of the council in the planned security architecture of government”.
He described as unfortunate the situation where some traditional rulers have been indicted for aiding the perpetration of crime in parts of the state.
The Opobo monarch urged the Rivers State Government to treat the matter on a case to case basis, and thanked the governor for applying restraint when meting out punishment to traditional rulers in whose domain criminal gangs operate.
Douglas-Jaja commended Wike for entrenching development in the state, saying that with his inaugural speech, it was obvious that his second term will lead to more projects across the state.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that his administration will continue to promote access to justice and the independence of the judiciary.
The governor also distributed vehicles to newly sworn-in magistrates, saying that his administration will always create the right environment for the dispensation of justice.
Speaking, yesterday, during the presentation of the vehicles to the new magistrates, Wike said that all the arms of government should work together to develop the state.
He said: “You know that as magistrates of the Rivers state judiciary, there are certain standards of comfort that are expected of them. I doubt if you expect them to be running around in taxis and all the rest. The need for effective dispensation of justice requires that some of these basic facilities should be available to them.
“So, in terms of these vehicles, it is to make sure that as they start work, they are doing so with every necessary facility for the discharge of their responsibilities”
He noted that it is necessary to ensure that officers of all the arms have the right facilities to discharge their duties.
“It was done for judges; it has been done for the previous magistrates. These 11 new magistrates were just sworn in about a month ago. So, it is something that happens normally at all times, for all arms of government”, he said.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra expressed gratitude to Governor Nyesom Wike for the approval for the appointment of new magistrates and the release of new vehicles to them.