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Okrika Attack: Rights Group Demands Suspension Of CP, DSS Boss …Policeman Died Defending Democracy -Peterside
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has blamed “the abysmal failure of security intelligence and, or, conspiracy of silence on the part of leadership of the Nigerian security agencies for the upsurge in politically-motivated violence during political campaigns.”
It called for the immediate suspension of the Rivers State commissioner of police and his counterpart in the State Security Service (state director of DSS), for their collective failure to nip in the bud series of bloody attacks targeted against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigners.
The rights group noted that “the persistent and near-official acceptance of official incompetence and consistent show of shame by security chiefs in Nigeria has resulted in the spiraling violence and organised crimes being perpetrated by undesirable elements without the security agencies doing anything to check the growing menace.”
HURIWA said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko: “We believe that state commissioners of police and their counterparts in the Department of State Security (DSS) must be made to take responsibility and account for any breach of peace and break down of law and order in the areas of jurisdiction. The principle of accountability and transparency demands that the persons on whose tables the bulk stop must account for any failure that occur on grand scale in their areas of jurisdiction.
“The only way that leads to the emergence of anarchy and impunity in Nigeria is the current practice whereby the Federal Government and the national hierarchies of the security community have come to live with the ugly reality that those who bear responsibility for keeping security and the rule of law shouldn’t be sanctioned administratively for breach of peace and emergence of anarchy in their areas of jurisdiction. (The) Nigerian state must break this vicious circle of official silence whenever senior security officers failed in their duty to provide security of lives and property in their immediate areas of official jurisdiction.”
On the ugly incident in Okrika, Rivers State, in which the governorship candidate of APC was attacked and the campaign rally disrupted so viciously and violently, HURIWA said the belated dramatic public media show being put up by Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, to investigate the causes of the violence will not achieve any meaningful result, as long as the commissioner of police in charge of that state remains on his duty post, while the so-called investigation is proceeding.
The rights group said the Police Service Commission’s constitutional duty of enforcement of discipline on erring senior police officers has been duplicated, and it is being infringed upon, if the internal probe by the Inspector-General of Police is allowed to overshadow the properly constituted independent investigation that the Nigeria Police Commission ought to provide, if members of that body want Nigerians to see them as persons of integrity and character.
“We completely reject this fake investigation and the internal kangaroo panel by the serving Inspector-General of Police, and hereby call for comprehensive independent investigation so any indicted police officer is appropriately prosecuted in competent courts of law, without any cover-up, as we are already used to. We now understand why opposition mounted in some civil society circles rejecting the nomination and confirmation of the current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the retired inspector-general of police, Mr Mike Mbama Okiro. Since his emergence, this commission that was in institutional slumber has completely gone comatose. The chairman and members are busy gallivanting around and playing partisan politics while the Policing Institution in Nigeria gradually dies away,” the group said.
HURIWA specifically condemned as despicable and irrational the violent attack on the crew from Channels, a local private television detailed to cover the APC’s governorship campaign in Okrika by armed political thugs that stormed the venue of the campaign and caused chaos, leading to the death of innocent Nigerians.
It also demanded that media workers who cover political campaigns must be provided sufficient safeguards and security against politically targeted violent attacks, by armed political thugs belonging to rival parties. Because, in the view of the association, the journalists detailed to cover political campaigns are completely non-partisan and are simply carrying out their legitimate duties of educating, entertaining and informing the rest of Nigerians and the world in line with the demands of their profession, and provisions of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), particularly Section 22, which makes the media the social vanguards and watchdogs of the society, for the preservation of good and qualitative governance in Nigeria.
The group said the handwriting has been on the wall since one year now that political violence will spark off in Rivers State. And many arrests of unscrupulous persons with illegal weapons were made in Rivers State over a year ago, but these culprits were let off the hook; and security officials have failed to put in place proactive and effective anti-violence measures to check the unprecedented rate of politically targeted killings that are happening now.
“The Office of the Rivers State Attorney-General must bring all the indicted armed political thugs and their sponsors to trial in competent courts of law; and the Nigeria Police must be reformed to weed out all the undesirable elements that have found their ways into that near-decadent and rapidly collapsing force. The Department of State Security must also vigorously be on top of their game, to save Nigeria from becoming engulfed completely in violent conflagration and anarchy,” it said.
HURIWA equally condemned the series of violent attacks that targeted the campaign train of President Good luck Jonathan in some Northern states. It has, therefore, canvassed immediate identification, arrest and prosecution in competent courts of law, all indicted armed political gangs implicated in the spate of attacks against President Jonathan’s campaign rallies.
The group said: “What has happened to the thugs that set ablaze the campaign buses of President Jonathan in Jos, Plateau State capital? Why are the thugs not yet charged in court, or are some persons bigger than the law of the land? What about those political thugs that stoned Mr President in Bauchi and other flashpoints in the North? If the Bauchi State government is unwilling to investigate this sad incident, because of the debate in the media between the state governor and the FCT minister on the person that sponsored the political thugs, then the Federal Government should apprehend and bring to trial these thugs and their sponsor, even if these sponsors are top government officials.”
But in reaction to the attacks, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Six, Johnson Tunde Ogunsakin, restated the readiness of the police to bring to book those behind the recent Okrika mayhem.
Ogunsakin, who spoke to newsmen shortly after a meeting with the leaderships of political parties in Port Harcourt, said that the police will get to the root of the matter.
He said that the police have already commenced investigation into the matter, noting that those discovered to have incited the violence will not be spared.
Ogunsakin, however, stressed the need for elders of Okrika nation and the various political parties to talk to their youths with a view to avoid further breakdown of law and order in the area, noting that the police will continue to maintain peace in all parts of the state.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for violating the peace accord recently signed by leaderships of political parties in the state.
Chairman of the party, Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who spoke to newsmen during the meeting in Port Harcourt, said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has violated the tenets of the peace accord, and therefore, needs to be sanctioned.
Ikanya said that the APC will continue to remain law abiding with the view to guaranteeing the peace and security of the state.
The APC chairman also expressed the party’s confidence in the ability and capacity of the Rivers State police command to ensure law and order as well as secure the lives and property of residents of the state.
He said that the state APC has never had any doubts that the police could provide a level playing field for all political parties, but regretted that the police effort has been slowed down by pressures from the Presidency.
Ikanya challenged the police to arrest and prosecute all those responsible for the disruption of the APC rally and killing of a police officer in Okrika, last week.
However, the state Secretary of PDP, Ibibia Walter, has dismissed calls by APC chairman for INEC to sanction the party for allegedly violating a peace accord, signed by the parties with the commission.
Walter said that the PDP has never been involved in any acts of violence, and described the APC call as baseless and unfounded.
Meanwhile, former Niger Delta militant leader, Ateke Tom, has rubbished claims that the President’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, was behind the attack on the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress in Okrika Local Government Area of Rives State, recently.
Some members of APC had alleged that Mrs. Jonathan, who is a native of Okrika Local Government Area, was behind the attack to disrupt the rally.
However, Ateke Tom, has come out to defend the First Lady, asserting that Mrs. Jonathan would never be involved in the sponsorship of violence, describing her as a woman of peace.
He said, “Politicians are pointing accusing fingers; but they are all politicians. But what I am sure of is that the President’s wife can never be involved in the attack at Okrika.
“She is seen as the mother of the country and she hates violence and the shedding of blood. She can’t be involved in such an act and I disagree with those saying she is responsible for the attack on APC campaign ground”, he added.
Meanwhile, The governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said on Saturday that Cpl. Ifeanyi Okorie, laid down his life in defence of democracy in Nigeria.
Peterside, represented by his running-mate, Mr Okorie Asita, made the remark in Port Harcourt, when a delegation of the APC leadership visited Mrs Gift Ifeanyi, wife of the policeman, who was killed at Okrika on February18.
He said the party never thought that opponents would hire thugs to disrupt APC rally in Okrika, leading to the death of the policeman.
“Your husband laid down his life for the sake of peace in this country and for our sake.”
“As you are mourning, all of us are crying as we owe him a depth of gratitude because it could have been any of us if he was not there,” “Your husband laid down his life defending democracy, he died fighting to maintain peace, he died securing us and we cannot forget that in a hurry,” he added.
He said as a people, the party had come to assure the family that they were not alone in pain.
Peterside said the party had seen the little children Okorie left behind, adding “we are all parents here, so we understand the pressure his death would expose you to’’.
He said that children needed their parents, not just their parents’ money and they needed their parents to be alive and answer their questions in life.
Peterside said the death of Okorie would not stop the children from realizing their destiny as they would benefit from the state government’s scholarship.
Gift thanked the party men for visiting and appreciating the pains she would face raising four children.
Rivers APC governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Peterside (left) receiving royal blessing from Amanyanabo of Ogoloma, King G.T.I. Obudibo, Ikwo V, during a courtesy visit at Ogoloma, Okrika, last week
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.