Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has blamed the security lapses in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Council (ONELGA) where gunmen killed 21 persons on New Year’s day on Federal Government’s laxity, The Guardian reports.
The governor said this when scores of women from ONELGA led by Dr. Grace Akolokwu, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, to declare their support for his re-election bid for successfully initiating the peace process in the area.
Wike said his administration would continue to work towards the improvement of security for the economic stability in the council, a high crude oil and gas producer in the country.
“I will not sit down in Government House and allow criminals to torment Rivers people. Wherever the criminals are, we will track them down,” he said.
He explained that it was disheartening for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government to neglect ONELGA, which produces the wealth of the country.
He restated his call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that the 2019 general election was free, fair and credible.
But representative of Rivers South-East senatorial district, Magnus Abe, who is considered a major contender for the APC governorship ticket in the state, has urged the governor to create an atmosphere for credible elections in the state.
“Rivers State is where it is today but it can be somewhere better. We can chart a different direction, we can create more than what we have created.
“One of the things we must get right in Rivers State is that we must pick leaders who will concentrate on our state.
“When we have a leader whose attention is outside the state, who wants to control Abuja and Nigeria, the state suffers. We need a leader that will focus on the challenges facing Rivers State,” he said.
While declaring his unflinching support and commitment to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abe said he would do whatever it takes to ensure that APC wins in Rivers State next year.
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