By: Felix Ikpotor
Poised to tackle the rising insecurity in Rivers State, the governor, Nyesom Wike will on Friday launch a new security architecture.
He spoke in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, when he declared open the 110 and 111 quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
He said: “I wish to reiterate that our traditional rulers bear enormous moral and legal responsibilities to work with the Local and State Governments to secure the State and fast-tract development and progress to their communities.
“It bears repeating that you have no moral claim to your traditional titles, authority and reverence if you cannot guide, mentor, persuade and prevail on your youths to shun all forms of criminality and take your communities to enviable heights of peace and socio-economic transformation under your reign”.
Wike while urging the monarchs to take proactive steps towards improving security in their communities said the criminal elements disturbing security and peaceful existence of the state live in communities and can be fished out with strong local intelligence and commitment.
His words: “I wish to again assure you all that Rivers State is in safe hands under our guide and we will continue to do our best to protect its political interests, grow the economy and advance its development and progress more than ever until our very last day in office.
“What we need from you is to mobilize your subjects and communities for development and partner with the State Government to enable our youths to realize their full potential and self-actualization as responsible citizens”, he said.
Commenting on OML 25 crisis, Wike said he supports the development of local companies, but noted that the right thing must be done at all times.
He said if the Federal Government had given the company owned by a Rivers son the license for OML 25, the State Government would have supported him totally.
“If the Federal Government had given our son the license for OML 25, I would have been happy. But the Federal Government gave the license to Shell. Now people were hired and they stopped operations for two years.
“Government called the Amanyanabo of Kula and others for a meeting and preached peace. Simply because of Kobo, the man changed his position. Is that the kind of person you want the State Government to give Staff of Office? A Traditional Ruler that will come before the Government and sign an agreement and then go back to say that he is withdrawing his signature”, he said.
Meanwhile, traditional rulers in the state have appealed to the state government to make them part of the new security structre.
Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja who made the appeal while speaking at the meeting also appreciated the Governor’s effort in restoring security in the state.
He said: “Traditional Rulers appreciate all the efforts you are making at curbing crime in our State and are prepared to participate in all these efforts by the State Government to stem the tide of insecurity in the state. We, therefore, implore you to make use of capable members of the Council in the planned security architecture of Government “.
He described as unfortunate the situation where some chiefs have been indicted for aiding the perpetuation of crime in parts of the state.
He urged the Rivers State Government to treat the matter on a case to case basis.
