…as Amaewhule leads Obio-Akpor protest
Hundreds of youths under the auspices of the Nigerian Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have taken a peaceful protest against the caretaker committee arrangement for local government areas to the headquarters of the police in Rivers state.
The youths, who kicked against using caretakers to run the councils, thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police for maintaining neutrality in the political crisis in the state.
Specifically, the youths said the police’s decision to take over the secretariats of local government areas was in the best interest of the state pending the determination of the cases in court.
The youths, who marched from the Isaac Boro Park at Mile One to the police headquarters in Moscow Road, said the state was not at war insisting that the police must be appreciated for taking measures to avert violence.
The youths carried placards with inscriptions, ‘FG save Rivers State from autocracy, Youths ask CP to arrest deviants, we say no to LGA CTC, Thank you the Nigerian Police for maintaining law and order in our LGAs among others appealed to the police not leave the secretariats.
The factional chairman of NYCN, Nwinsabari Bani, who led the youths, said: “Rivers state is not at war and we are here to say to the Nigerian Police Force, thank you in our loud voice and numbers.
“It is very bad that we are in a society where when a man does something bad, we can pay our flight to Jupiter and back just to write it for people to see. But when a man decides to do what is right which the rule of law is, he becomes an enemy to the few.
“We are here to state firmly to the Nigerian Police Force led by CP Tunji Disu that we are happy with what you have done for Rivers youths because many people would not know what’s happening in Rivers State.
“What you have combated is known as terrorism in some states and it’s worse because the people that hold our task payers money are the ones fanning this crisis.
It is so worrisome that we had expected that the hard-earned resources of Rivers people would be used to develop the state.
“I want to say this the Nigerian youths and Rivers youths are grateful for you coming to take over our secretariats thereby stopping invaders”.
He lamented that before the arrival of policemen, some local government areas had been invaded by the people loyal to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
He said the youths were initially happy when the governor said he was handing over the administration of local government areas to the civil servants pending the determination of the cases in court.
But Bani said: “To our dismay on the 17th of this month, people were given funds meant for development to go and sit and takeover our local governments with arms.
“We are saying this because we want to thank the Nigerian Police Force for preventing these hoodlums from taking over our secretariats and looting them. We are saying to the Inspector-General of Police that the current leadership of the Command in Rivers State is discharging their responsibilities without bias to Party A or Party B.
“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to at this point give all the needed support to this command to ensure they continue to occupy, secure and dislodge any hoodlums that want to take over our local government councils.
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“We are here because the Rivers state police command has shown the way that the rule of law is very important. We are not here because we haven’t had issues with them. We have always criticized them, but today we are here in solidarity with the Nigerian Police Force.
“Our demands remain that you should further occupy our local government secretariats till judgement is served Rivers people. We are also saying that your men have done very well, keep them in our local communities”.
Bani recalled that the commissioner of police in Rivers had arrested notorious criminals, cultists and kidnappers to keep the peace and ensure the return of nightlife to Rivers.
Describing CP Tunji as a thoroughbred professional, he called on the IGP to shun any propaganda aimed at compelling him to redeploy the commissioner.
He also called on the commissioner of police to arrest all the people bearing illegal arms in communities and bring them to justice.
He said: “We also want to thank Rivers youths for maintaining restraints and their respectful disposition by not seeking self-help but obeying the rule of law.
“What happened yesterday in Rivers State is an eye-opener to what we are doing here today. It’s no longer news that some of them are now using our money to purchase arms to give to the youths to kill themselves but Rivers youths are wiser now.
“We’ll not leave governance in their hands, we’ll not leave politics for politicians this time around. We are marching our words with action and we will ensure that Nigerian youths will provide support and due intelligence to the Nigerian Police Force to ensure that all their responsibilities are carried out in Rivers State”.
Responding to the protesters, CP Tunji said the duty of the police was to protect lives and properties saying he would not renege on it.
He said: “We are not politicians and we’ll do our best to remain apolitical. I thank you so much for all you have done and the support you have given us and I assure you that we’ll continue to do our jobs in maintaining law and order.
“Rivers State is a very important state to the economy of our dear nation Nigeria and there must not be breakdown of law and order. We have taken note of all you have said here and we’ll continue to do our job. Whenever we do anything wrong, do not hesitate to call us to order to correct our mistakes. We appreciate you.”
It was further gathered that Speaker Martins Amaewhule led a massive protest in Obio-Akpo in support of the police and against the caretaker committees inaugurated by the governor.