Okenyi Kenechi
Yesterday, personnel of the Nigerian Army invaded the training camp of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps Agency in Nonwa, Tai Local Government Area and disrupted training activities, arrested the director of the corps, other instructors and shut down the camp.
Keen observers of political processes in Rivers state like yours truly were not in any way surprised at the turn of events. I don’t also think the governor himself and the top decision-makers in his troubled administration were. He should have seen it coming and believe me, he will have it rough.
Events leading to the Neighbourhood watch bill which was then before the Rivers State House of Assembly being granted accelerated passage were interesting in a way. The bill was greeted with mixed reactions by residents who wondered how the Corps would operate given the polarizing nature of politics in the state.
It sparked debates upon debates on air with the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress saying that governor Wike wants to equip a private army for election purposes. Though Wike denied such claims, he maintained that the agency will bridge the lacuna of insecurity bedevilling the state. He also went as far as incorporating the DSS and Police into the training program so as to legitimize it.
Other states like Lagos, Kaduna, Zamfara and Nassarawa have similar outfits. But the resentment towards Rivers Neighbourhood watch is more political than mere scrutiny of good or bad intentions.
On the surface, it is a great idea – creating a security outfit that will complement the efforts of security agents in the state, especially given the general rise in security challenges in the state brought by a shattered economy and job losses. However, residents are worried that such an outfit being managed by the state government will one way or the other be exploited for electoral purposes as the journey towards the 2019 general elections become more intense.
There is also the issue of timing. The governor did not consult widely. If the motive is clear, why would the state government launch such an outfit months before the general elections? Recall that the same state government disbanded community vigilante groups which secured communities from what they are currently suffering from.
The state government ought to have strengthened these community-based vigilante groups, reorganize them in a way that makes them impenetrable by any forms of political machination and ensures that they work hand in hand with security agencies.
It is no longer news that the minister of transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi wants Nyesom Wike out of Brick House. The minister is so determined in his quest to see Wike out of office that he disobeys court rulings and is ready to disobey his party too.
To achieve that, every action of the governor is closely monitored and scrutinized. The governor is also aware of what is at play. He knows that his administration is being stifled using the machinations of state power, hence his outburst.
The minister is also rumoured to be eyeing the presidency come 2023 should Buhari win another term next year.
The governor himself is not new to that. He and Amaechi merely exchanged positions and might exchange experiences too.
