By Uche Amunike
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pointed accusing fingers at politicians, alleging that some misguided ones among them are currently recruiting political thugs, cultists and ex-convicts to cause mayhem in the state in furtherance of their political aspirations for 2023, as the coming general election draws near.
Speaking, during a state broadcast, Sunday night, Wike stated that the state had also garnered intelligence reports that some hoteliers and owners of entertainment spots have also been approached to allow the use of their premises as bases for the assemblage of the political thugs across Rivers State.
According to the broadcast statement, which was released by Nyesom Wike’s Media Aide, Kelvin Ebiri, the Governor has vowed not to take the intelligence report lightly, warning that no politician, not minding the status, will be allowed by his administration to tamper with the prevailing peace and security that is presently being enjoyed by the state.
Hear him: ‘Similarly, we will not allow any political party, be it All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to threaten the safety and security of lives and property during the campaigns with mayhem, thuggery or violence’.
‘Accordingly, we have already alerted and set the security agencies on the trail of these misguided politicians and leaders of political parties and stop them in their tracks with the full weight of the law’.
‘We also wish to warn owners of hotels and proprietors of relaxation centres to take notice and desist from releasing their facilities for politicians and party leaders to use to meet and plot against the peace, safety and security of our State.’
He went on to state that any hotel or entertainment spot that is found to be linked with any such criminal activities in the state, will be pulled down.
Governor Nyesom Wike averred that his administration has an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of lives and property of the people of Rivers State, giving the reassurance that they will continue to spare no effort in seeing that Rivers State is safe and secure.
His words: ‘ We urge residents to be vigilant while going about with their normal activities and promptly report any suspicious gatherings or movements in your vicinity to the attention of the security agencies for necessary action.’
‘These are very turbulent times in our country as the level of insecurity across all parts has never been this bad. The state government and security agencies have laboured hard to secure the prevailing peace we are determined to sustain for the progress of the State and wellbeing of citizens’.
While commending the people of Rivers state for being supportive towards his administration since May 2015 till the present time, he urged residents to be security conscious, while also warning that the state will pull down every hotel and other entertainment spots that are linked with any such criminal political activities.
