The Six Division of the Nigerian
Army, Port Harcourt has queried the alleged invasion of the Obio-Akpor
Collation Centre by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, which was ignored by
the fact-finding committee of the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC.
The Nigerian Army also expressed
disappointment in the statement released by INEC’s National Commissioner and
Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye, saying that
nothing in its report presented to the fact-finding committee reflected in the
information released by INEC on Rivers State.
Deputy Director, Army Public
Relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, in a comprehensive statement, said INEC’s
action clearly indicates lack of trust by an institution that the Nigerian Army
sacrifices so much to assist in the course of performing their role.
The Army stated that INEC failed
to mention or even consider that police officers attached to Government House
and armed thugs, who arrived Obio-Akpor Collation Centre with about fifty
vehicles allegedly attacked Captain Adams Salami, who was shot at close range
while Corporal Adeosun Adebayo was matcheted by the thugs who are currently
receiving treatment in the hospital.
Colonel Iliyasu also stated that
most disheartening is that while the Rivers State Police Command accepts the
involvement of their personnel in the attack at Obio-Akpor LG Headquarters,
till date those personnel have not been reprimanded.
The Division said it is equally
disappointed with the attitude exhibited by the Nigerian Police and hereby
request the police leadership to commence full scale investigation of those
security aides to Governor Wike that allegedly attacked troops at the
Obio-Akpor Collation Center.
The Six Division of the Nigerian
Army said until that is done, it will have to review all existing joint
activities with the Rivers State Police Command.
Full statement below.
Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian
Army (NA) have observed with dismay and sense of betrayal in the statement made
by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signed by its National
Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Festus
Okoye Esq on 15 March 2019. The statement according to INEC was the findings of
its Fact-Finding Committee that assessed the situation in Rivers State.
It is however pertinent to note
that, representatives of the 6 Division met with the Fact-Finding Committee on
Tuesday 12 March 2019 at the INEC Headquarters in Port Harcourt and had honest
discussions and made a written submission to aid the Committee in its task.
Regrettably, none of the Division’s input form any of the findings of INEC as
made public. This clearly indicates lack of trust by an institution that the NA
sacrifices so much to assist in the course of performing their role.
Genesis of the suspension of
Governorship/State House of Assembly elections process in Rivers State
What INEC failed to mention or
even consider is the fact that at about 10:30 pm on Saturday 9th March 2019,
troops of 6 Division NA detailed at the outer perimeter of Obio/Akpor Local
Government Headquarters Collation Center were brazenly attacked by Governor
Wike’s security aides and armed thugs who stormed the collation center with the
Governor in a convoy of more than 50 vehicles while collation of results was
going on. In the ensuing melee, Captain Adams Salami was shot at close range by
the security aides of Governor Wike while Corporal Adeosun Adebayo was
matcheted by Governor Wike’s thugs. Both victims are currently receiving
treatment at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) Intensive
Care Unit and Military Hospital Port Harcourt respectively with life
threatening injuries. Thereafter, election materials were carted away and
electoral officials abducted by the Governor’s thugs to an unknown destination.
This was made known to the INEC Fact-Finding Committee but INEC does not see it
worth condemning or mention in its report.
Consequently, after due
consultations and considerations between 6 Division and the Rivers State Police
Command on Sunday the 10th of March 2019, the Rivers State Police Command, on
their own, – took the initiative to invite the media to the hospitals where the
2 victims are receiving treatment and thereafter to host a press conference on
the matter with the view to dissociate itself from the unprofessional conduct
exhibited by their men attached to Wike and tell the public what disciplinary
action the command will take or is already taking. However, while the visit to
the victims was accomplished and the 2 victims interviewed by the media, the
press conference was aborted by the Police after journalists have been
assembled.
Coincidentally, a rescheduled press conference on the matter
was also aborted on Thursday the 14th of March 2019. Most disheartening is that
while the Rivers State Police Command accepts the involvement of their
personnel in the attack at Obio/Akpor LG Headquarters, till date those
personnel have not at least been reprimanded.
To this end, – in the
circumstance, – the 6 Division NA as a stakeholder in the 2019 General
Elections takes exception to the lopsided and therefore unfair INEC report and
is hereby strongly and totally rejected by the NA.
The Division is equally disappointed
with the attitude exhibited by the Nigerian Police in this regard and hereby
request the police leadership to commence full scale investigation of those
security aides to Governor Wike that attacked troops at the Obio/Akpor LG
Headquarters Collation Center and shot at Capt AA Salami with a view to
appropriately sanction those found responsible/culpable. Until that is done,
Headquarters 6 Division NA will have to review all existing joint activities
with the Rivers State Police Command.
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