Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom
Wike has called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim
Idris, not to allow politics to
negatively affect the fight ag
ainst insecurity in the country.
The governor advised the IG to allow state Commissioners of Police to
work with state governors, as that was the only way that security can be promoted in the country.
Speaking during a Public Lecture on Security organised by the Inspector
General of Police in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State yesterday, Governor Wike said he had
nothing personal against the IG, but
pointed out that he will continue to alert the Police Chief on security
challenges in Rivers State. The event had in attendance, Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Usani; the governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben
Ayade; that of Bayelsa, Mr Seriake Dickson, represented by his duty, Mr. John Jona; Delta State governor, Mr.
Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Festus Agas
in their goodwill messages said the Federal Government rather resort to using dialogue in to addressing the
various agitations. Usani, who chaired the public lecture, revealed that
militants have overwhelmed some governments in some countries, noting that
Nigeria was heading towards the direction. “For any reason, if our agitations
are not addressed through dialogues about issues that concern us, it may result
in our gradually walking towards the loss of a nation, the loss of sovereignty,
and none of us shall eventually be better for it as we will no longer have
assets that we can call our homes.” Wike, said: “You (IG) must allow the
Commissioners of Police to work closely with their respective governors to
improve the security architecture.
Politicization of security is a major crime. Commissioners of Police
work with governors on the basis of the governor’s relationship with the powers
that be. This should not be.” “Let’s not
bring politics into fighting crime. A
kidnapper does not care about the political
party of his victim. Nobody is immune from insecurity, irrespective of status.”
The governor said all stakeholders must collaborate to improve security across
the country. He said: “Let me further reiterate the point that as the nation’s
number one Police Officer, the buck on civil security stops at the table of the
IG and he is as accountable to the public as any other public office holder. “I
wish to assure you that Rivers State under my watch will continue to support
and collaborate with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies as
partners to combat insecurity not only in Rivers State but also across the
nation.” The governor urged the IG to look into complaints by state governors,
as they are important to improve
security. Usani, who chaired the public lecture on, “Insecurity: Socio-economic
Impacts and Conflict Resolution Perspectives,” organised by the Nigerian Police
in Uyo on yesterday, revealed that militant forces have overwhelmed some
governments in some countries, noting that Nigeria is heading towards the
direction. Usani, who chaired the public lecture, revealed that militants have
overwhelmed some governments in some countries, noting that Nigeria was heading
towards the direction. “For any reason, if our agitations are not addressed
through dialogues about issues that concern us, it may result in our gradually
walking towards the loss of a nation, the loss of sovereignty, and none of us
shall eventually be better for it as we will no longer have assets that we can
call our homes.” On his part, the host governor, Mr. Emmanuel said that there was no federal
presence in the region despite the region’s immense contribution through its
resources to the country’s development. According to him, FG must provide
security to ensure the flow of commerce and industry in the country. Earlier,
the IG, Alhaji Idris said that the security summit was aimed improving security in the country. He said the Public
Lecture Series will help the Police understand the security challenges of the
different geo-political zones.
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