Irony: Wike Ignores ‘tape Scandal’, Leads Protest To Police Headquarters
BEVERLY HILLS, December 15, (THEWILL) – Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday led thousands of supporters to stage a protest over alleged police high handedness in the just concluded legislative re-run election in Rivers.
The protesters also accused the police of killing PDP members and demanded the transfer of two policemen alleged to be masterminds of the police attacks.
The protest which was peaceful started from Government House to Azikiwe street and Bank Road before terminating at the Police command headquarters on Moscow road in the city centre.
Addressing the police, Wike told the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyril Okoro that people of the state were fed up with alleged killings by some policemen and other security operatives.
“On behalf of the Rivers Government and good people of the state, we have to let the police know that enough is enough,” he said.
“We demand that Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Steven Hasso and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Akin Fakorede be posted out of the state.
“We have come here peacefully to communicate this demand and urge that this request is communicated to Police headquarters in Abuja because I have written repeatedly to IGP.
“Please, I don't want people to die anymore and definitely do not want corrupt senior police officers posted to Rivers state,” he said.
Wike said the police had refused to sanction the two policemen in spite alleged video footage which purported the duo and other security operatives attempting to snatch results of the Rivers East Senatorial District.
The governor described as unfortunate and worrisome a situation where policemen who are supposed to be non-partisan paraded themselves as politicians in uniform.
According to him, the bias security operatives must be posted out of the state.
“If they don't leave the state, then we will do all we can to ensure that they leave this state because they have killed innocent people,” the governor claimed.
However, an audio recording which revealed a voice alleged to be that of Wike making calls to some top officials of INEC to rig the recently-concluded legislative re-run elections in favour of his candidates is being ignored.
From the audio recording, a voice said to be that of Wike was heard even threatening to kill one of the INEC official if he dared fail to deliver after collecting an undisclosed item from the Governor, something believed to be huge sum of money.
The conversation that ensued in the recording allegedly revealed Wike threatening to kill the INEC officials, particularly those sent from Plateau State, if they supposedly fail to keep to their end of rigging the election for PDP candidates in Etche, Khana, Ikwerre and other key local government areas in the state.
Story by Oputah David