By Godwin Anene
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday faulted the appointment of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Onochie is the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media.
Wike, who faulted the Onochie’s appointment, called on Nigerian youths who are protesting against the Special Anti-Robbory Squad (SARS), to also protest against such appointment by Preisdent Buhari.
The governor who spoke on Tuesday while addressing teeming #EndSARS protesters led by Rivers born entertainment stars and social activists who matched to the gates of the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Wike said, “But we must also learn to choose our priorities. You have heard that Mr. President has appointed his Media Aide as National Commissioner, INEC.
“His own media aide as INEC commissioner and you are saying INEC should be independent, how will that INEC be independent when the President appoints his own aide as commissioner? And nobody is talking, protesting about it.
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“So as you are protesting police reforms, we must also tell Mr. President you cannot make you personal aide and INEC commissioner. I will continue to fight for reform of police, and when something happens to Rivers, other states should join it.”
While giving reasons why he declined to join those now championing for the disbandment of SARS as well as an end to police brutality, Wike said more Rivers people had died from SARS brutality than any state in the country.
He noted that when previously called for the disbandment of the police unit following incessant killings by SARS operatives, he was jettisoned even by his colleague governors..
The placard carrying protests, in a modified protest, following Inspector General of Police disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) call for end to overall police brutality, better welfare to policemen and justice for Rivers victims of police extra judicial killings.
Wike said, “All of you here supported us to be here. I took oath to protect lives and property. Every Rivers man or woman’s blood matters to me. What we find in this country is that nobody wants to say the truth.
As one of the states in this country, when we in Rivers raise alarm in this country, nobody wants to listen. But when it happens in other states, you want me to listen, I won’t do that. No Governor is this country has challenged SARS as Rivers State Government did.
“When there was so much kidnapping in this state, I raised alarm to Federal Government (FG), they said it was politics. I then prayed to God that the kidnapping, armed robbery, killings take over the entire country. Has it not taken over the entire country? Now it’s no longer politics.
“No state has suffered in the hands of SARS like Rivers. I am the only Governor who has come out to openly fight against SARS, that said they must scrap this SARS. No other Governor, not one came out.
“We have lost so many lives in this states in the hands of SARS. I cried and cried about SARS, not one state supported Rivers. Now, same SARS has gone to kill people in another state, it has now touched them.
“Now that they have killed your own people in another state, they have seen how bad SARS is, you now expect me to come to support you to seek protection, not so. Rivers blood is very important to me.
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“Rivers will never play second fiddle to anyone else. Look at a lecturer in the Polytechnic Bori that SARS killed in cold blooded murder. We cried and cried, everyone saw it. Who in this country ever said let us protest about it?
“Nobody joined us in protest, because Rivers blood is not important. SARS can never be my friend. I will never support SARS. No Government in this country has challenged the police the way my government has.
“All the governors coming now to begin to join you in shouting we are ending SARS, why didn’t they say end SARS for so long? I will not be party to playing to the gallery. It is not only about ending SARS, every Nigerian should support total reforms for the police.
“If you harp on SARS, which they have ended, are they not same police personnel? If they form another body, is it not same police? What is required is total reform of police. That I will always support. So all governors playing to the gallery joining end SARS, I won’t join.
“I don’t want that kind of popularity. I will do what is right at the right time. I raised the alarm, shouted when it mattered most. Now they have killed their own person, let them know how painful it is. Celebrities saying all kinds of things in the social media doesn’t bother me.
“I will do what is right at all times. Nigerian needs reform of the Nigeria Police. Now what we should do, as the President has said he would reform the police, let us hold the President by his words.”
