Police Can’t Challenge Wike’s Executive Order 21, Rivers CP Tells Opposition Parties …Warns Against Violence, Destruction Of Campaign Posters, Billboards

Following disagreements over the pronouncements of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Executive Order 21, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Okon Effiong, has clarified those in doubt about the potency of the order that the police cannot challenge the state government on its legality, but rather urged aggrieved parties to seek redress in the court.
Effiong made this clarification during a stakeholders meeting organised by the police command at the Police Officers Mess in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
He averred that there was separation of powers in the democratic dispensation among the three tiers of the government: the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, which provided for checks and balances.
The CP while responding to questions from the APC gubernatorial candidate, Arch Tonye Cole, and other opposition political parties during the one-day meeting, said the police as the lead security agency in the internal security architecture has the responsibility to protect the rule of law, and not interfere with other arms’ responsibilities.
“ If you are so aggrieved with the executive order, approach the court for interpretation and seek redress”, he stated.
He told the audience that the essence of the meeting was to seek ways on how to achieve peaceful environment for electioneering campaign activities and successful elections in the state.
According to him, the state has made huge investments in the areas of peace and must be sustained, adding that every efforts must be put to have a one indivisible state during and after the elections.
Effiong warned that the police would not tolerate electoral campaign disruptions, destruction and burning of campaign billboards, posters and fliers, and urged the stakeholders to warn their supporters to desist from such act as anyone caught will be dealt with.
“I know that the problem is always with the supporters, try and pass this messages to them.
“Every political party in the state must be allowed to exist, do its campaigns, and have the opportunity to talk to the electorate, who will decide who governs them.
“If we kill those we want to govern, who then shall we govern?
“The country operates multi-party democracy, so, we must give everybody equal opportunity to campaign”, he stated.
The state police boss assured all the contestants of equal protection, irrespective of their political affiliations, adding that the police will increase deployment of personnel in the senatorial zones.
“In fact, the management team has approved the establishment of tactical teams across the three senatorial districts of the state as a sure means of protection and effective policing during the elections.”
He assured that the police command under his watch will be apolitical, and urged all the candidates running for state and national legislative elections and gubernatorial position to apply for police protection and details, adding that their requests would be granted equally, without discrimination.

By: Akujobi Amadi