By Kevin Pepple
The Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged the Presidency to call the Inspector General of Police,IGP, to order over the Saturday local government elections in the state.
The body rose from an emergency meeting on Friday and urged residents not to be cowed by the police action.
Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, King Chike Anderson A. Worlu Wodo, Eze Oha Apara (IV) and the Secretary, Dr. Ogwuokwa Matthew Jonah, in a joint statement issued after the meeting said the police worsened the already rising suspicion and distrust that residents of the state now have for the Nigerian Police.
He said the action of the Rivers State Police Command not to provide security for the local Government elections holding on Saturday 5 October, 2024 was not salutary for democracy.
The council called on the President to call to order, any person or group of persons, trying to use the Police to cause a breach of peace in Rivers State, because if Rivers State is allowed for whatever political interests to return to the dark days of disorder, the nation will be the ultimate loser.
“We call on the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to call the Police to order so that they do not, by their actions which are now clearly partisan, cause trouble in the state,” the royal fathers said.
Residents of Rivers State woke on Friday October 4, 2024 to the disturbing news of some “rogue” policemen allegedly attempting to break into the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) with the intent of tampering with electoral materials meant for the Rivers State Local Government Elections on Saturday, 5 October, 2024.
The council enjoined politicians across the divides not to burn down the state because of their selfish political interests stressing that, ” …if they destroy the state today, there will be no place with which to build their political structures for the realization of their future political ambitions.”
While calling on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to be firm in conducting the elections in line with global best practices, the royal fathers charged all eligible voters in Rivers State to come out en-mass tomorrow Saturday 5th October, 2024 to exercise their franchise by electing those that will run the 23 Local Government Councils as chairmen and councilors for the next three years.
Lauding the state governor Sir. Siminalayi Fubara for his continued peaceful disposition, the traditional rulers counselled him to follow the path of peace even in the face of unwarranted provocative action from enemies of the State.
About The Author
