Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has accused the Inspector General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force (NPF) of serving the interest of an unnamed Abuja-based politician to scuttle the local government elections scheduled for October 5, 2024, in the State.
Fubara made the accusation on Friday while addressing a World Press conference at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the already scheduled local government elections, barely hours away, cannot be stopped or truncated because a particular person does not want it conducted.
He said that everything that needed to be done about the electoral process legally, security wise and logistically, including the voters, have been finalised and voters sensitised because of their high confidence level.
The governor said even the police had been informed, and were expected to discharge their statutory professional security duties, particularly because the court also directed so in its judgement on the election.
He regretted that rather than obey the law, the police had become hired agents sent to attack the headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) but tried in vain to cart away sensitive materials.
Fubara said: “In the early hours of this morning (Friday), I got a security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office has been invaded by the Nigerian Police.
*I was really surprised because before that time, I got a copy of a signal withdrawing the police officers who were guarding the premises. So, I had to drive to the place myself since the facility belongs to Rivers State Government.
“Getting to the scene, and to shock of everyone who accompanied me there, I met the presence of some fierce-looking policemen in one truck and three other empty Hilux vans trying to force their way into the premises.
“And, I had to stop them. In the process, we discovered that that the movement (operation), was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force, both the Rivers State Command and the Headquarters (Abuja), to steal the electoral materials. But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.”
Fubara wondered how low the Nigeria Police could stooped, allowing its officers to engage in such illegal acts that clearly suggested that they have become enemies of Rivers State.
The governor also wondered why the Nigeria Police will attempt to take over control of RSIEC or be used to stop a democratic process that is ongoing, which will lead to the emergence of elected political leadership at the Local Government level.
He added: “Here are the questions: first, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, is it not an agency, and a process that is being controlled by the State Government? Is it not a system that is governed by the law of the State? Why is Rivers State’s case different?
“The second part of it is: what is the special thing about this issue of taking over the premises by the Police? If we should go by what they claim that they had a court order, the court ruling said, don’t give RSIEC voter register, don’t give RSIEC police protection.
“Did the judgment say they should seal the premises? Or don’t allow them conduct election?
“However, the Rivers State Government and RSIEC itself also had a judgment that states clearly: conduct the election with the voters register of 2023; and police, DSS, Nigeria Army and other sister agencies should provide security.
“I might not be a lawyer, but I understand clearly that when it comes to the issue of judgment, there is something they call first- in-time.”
Fubara asked if there was any other court unknown to him that is bigger than the Supreme Court of Nigeria, whose judgement concerning a proper constitution of elected Local Government Councils is being obeyed in Rivers State.
The governor stated that among all the security agencies, it is only the Nigeria Police that is acting so strangely and have become a threat to the nation’s democracy.
He said: “Why are they looking for a way to stampede this State? The Supreme Court gave a judgment that all local government activities must be conducted by elected officers.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in agreement with the State Governors, directed a compliance to this judgment within 90 days with effect from the judgment date.
“And all other States are conducting election to ensure that they comply with the directive, not just the Supreme Court ruling but also going by the understanding that we have with Mr. President.
“And what Rivers State is also doing is not different from others. And the big question is: is any other court bigger than the Supreme Court?”
Fubara also made reference to the incident that happened in Nigeria about the botched general election of June 12, 1993, wherein the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to the issue of election, no court should stop the process.
The governor said: “Is it not better; If you feel aggrieved, if you feel you don’t want to participate in the election that you should go to court?
“While do you want to stop the process of election, to create problem, to create anarchy in the state? We are already complaining of suffering, people are hungry, and you want to stampede the local government civil servants in the State.”
He assured Nigerians, and particularly peace- loving people of Rivers State that the election will go on, and nothing will stop it because everything required has been put in place.
The governor declared: “On the issue of security, if the police feel they don’t want to be part of the election, they should withdraw.
“I am saying this here so that the Inspector General of Police will be aware, and also know that any act against the peace of this State, anything that will bring a situation of lawlessness in this State, if it happens, I think at the end of the day, he should be prepared to take responsibility.
“Why is the case of Rivers State different? Is it that the law or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when it comes Rivers State, it is been interpreted in a different way?”
Fubara emphasised that the local government election on Saturday is sacrosanct, and demanded everybody to join hands together to make sure that it is peaceful so that there will be winners who will eventually be sworn-in to pilot the affairs of the councils.
He said: “This press briefing, if you listen to me, I am not crying. I am not also calling the international community (,for help). When they have their own press briefings, they call on the International community (for help). I am not calling international community.
“But from here, I just want you to know that we are prepared. Once in the lifetime of every man, you need to stand on the side of truth, and even if it will take your life, history will not forget you.
“Great Martin Luther King, today, we talk about him. We talk about him because he stood for what was the truth, and his life went in. And if I am going to be that Martin Luther King of Rivers State, so be it!”
