By Brave Dickson
The yet to be abated crime and criminality in Rivers State have been blamed on the chronic differences between Governor, Nyesom Wike and security chiefs in the state especially the Army.
The State Islamic Leader and Vice Rivers General, Rivers State Council For Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe Uhor who disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent maintained that until cooperation is engendered among the state government and relevant stakeholders, security will not be restored in the state.
The cleric said: “The issue of insecurity will continue in Rivers State as long as there is no cooperation between the state government and the security agencies, among the political class and also between the state government and other stakeholders like the traditional rulers and community leaders.
“All must come together and work together before we can achieve peace because the issue of security has transcended political, religious and traditional boundaries. If government sincerely sits down with security agencies and other stakeholders to say enough is enough, I tell you, insecurity in Rivers State will be a thing of the past.
“Though, Governor Wike has tried in bringing stakeholders together in order to restore security in the state but to be honest with you, a lot still need to be done. Let us borrow from history, the immediate past administration of Mr Rotimi Amaechi faced similar insecurity problem. Briefly, before that also, the administration of Sir Celestine Omehia also faced similar problem and he (Omehia) tackled the problem head on.
“What Sir Omehia did was to form a solid alliance with security agencies especially the military and they caught, dismantled and sent some criminals packing and we had some peace. Sir Omehia’s government went after criminals and dealt with them and there was calm everywhere.
“When Sir Omehia discovered that motorcyclists popularly called okadas were used in aiding crime, he banned okadas on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital and we had peace. The remnant criminals were too scared to come out because that government didn’t spare them. The military at that time worked hand in glove with the government to flush out criminals from the state.
“These criminals are not living in the moon. They live on this soil. Their whereabouts are known. If there is a solid alliance between the government and the security agencies especially the military, they will smoke out these criminals from the bushes where they make their hideouts.
“If the military can chase Boko Haram terrorists from Sambisa forest in the North-east, then the case of Rivers State is easier because there is no thick and big forest in this state like Sambisa.
“Yes, the governor has the right to request for the redeployment of service chiefs he can not work with in the state. The president is also free to decide not to accede to that request. If the president in his wisdom discovers nothing reasonable enough to redeploy these service commanders, he is not bound to accept what the governor says.
“So, the bottom line will be to sit down and iron out areas of differences between the state government and the service commanders that are deployed to the state. Because where the governor says redeploy these service commanders for X Y Z reasons and such reasons did not make sense to the deploying power (the president) then it will not work.
“Remember the case of CP Joseph Mbu as he then was in Rivers State during Mr Amaechi led administration. The then governor was wailing and shouting for Mr Mbu who was at variance with him to be redeployed but nothing happened. The then President Goodluck Jonathan didn’t even bother to listen to the reasons given by former governor Amaechi as to why he wanted the then CP Mbu to be redeployed. As long as the then president was concerned, the then commissioner of police was doing fine.
“So, the bottom line is the interest of the people. If you care about the interest of the people, you will bury your own interest or misgiving that is making you not to work with the security commanders. Put it aside and seek what to do because you are the accounting officer to the people while the service commanders are accountable to their superiors. So, if for one reason or the other, your own personal interest runs counter to theirs, you can set aside your own interest for the sake of your own people.
“If you achieve peace, is to your own credit. Nobody will talk about the service commanders. They will say the governor has been able to restore peace and with peace comes investments and investments bring job opportunities and your state will be booming.”
