By Brave Dickson
A stakeholder who doubles as a community leader in Rivers State, Hon Sam Ateke has joined others to throw his weight behind Governor Nyesom Wike’s tough stance as contained in a speech he delivered during his 2nd term inauguration.
The Rivers State Governor had on May 29, 2019 at the Yakubu Gowon stadium in Port Harcourt declared zero tolerance on insecurity in the state and promised to prioritise security in his 2nd term in office.
Wike said, “we wish to assure our people that we will continue to prioritize the provision of security and do our possible best within our constitutional powers and resources to safeguard lives and property across our State.
“Accordingly, we will make Rivers State too hot for criminals and bandits and deal ruthlessly with any person, gang or group, including traditional rulers and landlords who directly or indirectly participate, aid, abet, provide safe havens or allow criminal activities in homes, premises and territories under their control.
“We will also partner with the judiciary to ensure swift dispensation of criminal justice as well as work with stakeholders to operationalize the Neighbourhood Security Watch Scheme to support the security agencies so that we can all live and enjoy the State, raise our children and do our businesses in peace and security.”
Hon Sam who is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed excitement over Governor Wike’s comment as he described the governor as a man of his words.
According to Hon Sam, “Governor Wike just started his 2nd tenure with a lot of things he had promised. We know him as a man of his words. On my part, I will really want him to tackle insecurity because the level of insecurity in Rivers State is high. He should call for emergency security meeting with stakeholders including traditional rulers and security agencies to fashion out ways in addressing the challenge of insecurity in the state.”
He also urged all and sundry to join hands with the governor to nip crime and criminality in the bud so as to make the state safe for very one.
Reliable observations have indicated that the spate of insecurity in Rivers State escalated during and after the just concluded 2019 general elections in the state.
This ugly trend may not have been unconnected with the desperation by some politicians within and outside the state to clinch power at all cost.
The proliferation of costly fire arms in the hands of the men of the underworld who use them to perpetrate killing, kidnapping, robbery among other crimes have indeed pointed accusing fingers on highly placed Nigerians especially politicians as their sponsors.
Traditional rulers who are in desperate need of stools are also not left out as they have also been identified as sponsors of crime actors in their respective domains.
Even security agents have also been spotted by cameras while aiding and abetting crime and criminality in the state, consequence upon which some have been dismissed from service.
