Rivers State Governor, Nysom Ezenwo Wike, has given his assent
to the the controversal Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law
No.8 of 2018.
The Governor also gave his assent to the Rivers State Secret
Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) (Amendment) Law No.6 of
2018 and the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) (Amendment) No.2 Law
No.7 of 2018.
Giving his assent to the three laws passed by the Rivers State
House of Assembly at the Government House, Port Harcourt on
Thursday, Governor Wike said that the laws are necessary to enhance
security across the state.
He said that Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps will support
existing security agencies with intelligence and information for
them to effectively fight crime and make the state safer.
The governor said that the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps
cannot work without the approval of security agencies who will
profile all the operatives.
He said anybody who loves Rivers State will not do anything to
undermine steps that will enhance the security of lives in the
state.
He said: “If your hands are clean, you have nothing to fear
about the three laws that I have given assent to. By tomorrow, I
will appoint the person that will head the Neighbourhood Watch
Safety Corps.
“All criminals will face the full weight of the law. We will
fight crime and ensure that the State is safe for investors “.
He debunked claims by opposition elements that the State
Government plans to use the Neighbourhood Watch to arm youths. The
governor said that the corps is a replica of what is already in
existence in Lagos State.
Commenting on the Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Laws,
Governor Wike said that stiffer penalties have been approved to
discourage those who may want to be involved in the offences.
“If you are a cultist and you are caught, it is life
imprisonment. If you are a cultist and you kill during cult
activities, you will face the death penalty.
“If you are convicted of kidnapping and the Supreme Court
affirms your conviction, I will sign the death warrant without
looking back “, the governor said.
The governor said that the State Government will battle cultism
and kidnapping to a standstill, noting that enough is enough.
Senator Representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator
Osinakachukwu Ideozu said that the laws assented by the Rivers
State Governor will strengthen security operations in the state.
Senator Ideozu described as unfortunate the failed attempt by
Senator Magnus Abe to mislead the Senate on the Neighbourhood
Watch. He said it is within the purview of the Rivers State House
of Assembly to pass the State Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps Law
for the security of the state.
Senator Ideozu commended Governor Wike for being proactive in
the promotion of security in Rivers State by giving assent to the
three laws.
Presenting the bills, Majority Leader of the Rivers State House
of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule said that the laws provided for
stiffer penalties in the interest of the state.
He said that the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps Bill was
passed in line with extant laws and the constitution.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani said the Rivers
State Governor has made a difference through service delivery.
In a swift reaction,Dr Dakuku Peterside,the former Governorship
candidate of All Progressives Congress,APC,has vowed he would join
people of goodwill to challenge the controversial Neighbourhood
Watch Bill signed into law by Governor Nyesom Wike in government
today.
Since Rivers House Assembly passed the Neighbourhood Watch Bill
several Rivers people including the former Majority Leader,Dr Chidi
Llyod, and Chieftain of APC and a Lawyer have voiced their opinions
against some provisions of the bill that seek members to bear arms,
in addition to the governor having the powers to direct the agency
to carry out arrest and prosecution of accused persons.
However, Dr Dakuku Peterside says such powers in the hands of
Governor Wike will only cause more harm than good, especially in a
state where several people are still wailing and mourning following
the killings that trailed the 2015 general elections and subsequent
re-run elections.
According to him, “Governor Wike has claimed on several
occasions that the state is safe, it is therefore surprising that
the same governor is now setting up a private militia as an
alternative to law enforcement agencies.
“It is obvious to the least discerning person that his
contraption is to arm his private militia. This is an attempt to
use a legal platform to illegally arm his militia. The fear of
everybody in the state is the antecedent of the governor, who has
been accused of associating with touts and criminals and it is not
surprising that some of them have been given appointments by the
same Wike.”
Dr Peterside, who is also the Director-General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) alerted members
of the public that Governor Wike has on numerous occasion, stated
that he does not have trust in the law enforcement agencies, hence
this may be the reason for creating a private army.
“This is one creation that Rivers people will vehemently reject.
Never in the history of the state has any governor sought to do
what Wike is trying to do now. Arming his militia is a signpost of
danger and only those who are discerning enough will understand the
thinking of the governor.
“Who will train the so-called Neighbourhood Watch members? Who
selects and profiles them? Who will have the authority to control
them? Who supplies the arms and registers them? Who accounts for
their activities?
“Rivers people have been through tears, sorrow and pain in the
last four years owing to the activities of thugs, kidnappers,
cultists and hired assassins. Giving guns to people who have no
formal training in arms handling and discharge may signal another
round of mayhem,” he stressed.
The former governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers declared
that he would join Rivers people to protest against the
Neighbourhood Watch Law, in addition to using every legal means
possible to challenge its propriety especially as it relates to
bearing arms by members and the unjustifiable powers giving to the
governor.
Rivers State Governor, Nysom Ezenwo Wike, has given his assent
to the the controversal Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law
No.8 of 2018.
The Governor also gave his assent to the Rivers State Secret
Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) (Amendment) Law No.6 of
2018 and the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) (Amendment) No.2 Law
No.7 of 2018.
Giving his assent to the three laws passed by the Rivers State
House of Assembly at the Government House, Port Harcourt on
Thursday, Governor Wike said that the laws are necessary to enhance
security across the state.
He said that Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps will support
existing security agencies with intelligence and information for
them to effectively fight crime and make the state safer.
The governor said that the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps
cannot work without the approval of security agencies who will
profile all the operatives.
He said anybody who loves Rivers State will not do anything to
undermine steps that will enhance the security of lives in the
state.
He said: “If your hands are clean, you have nothing to fear
about the three laws that I have given assent to. By tomorrow, I
will appoint the person that will head the Neighbourhood Watch
Safety Corps.
“All criminals will face the full weight of the law. We will
fight crime and ensure that the State is safe for investors “.
He debunked claims by opposition elements that the State
Government plans to use the Neighbourhood Watch to arm youths. The
governor said that the corps is a replica of what is already in
existence in Lagos State.
Commenting on the Anti-kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Laws,
Governor Wike said that stiffer penalties have been approved to
discourage those who may want to be involved in the offences.
“If you are a cultist and you are caught, it is life
imprisonment. If you are a cultist and you kill during cult
activities, you will face the death penalty.
“If you are convicted of kidnapping and the Supreme Court
affirms your conviction, I will sign the death warrant without
looking back “, the governor said.
The governor said that the State Government will battle cultism
and kidnapping to a standstill, noting that enough is enough.
Senator Representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator
Osinakachukwu Ideozu said that the laws assented by the Rivers
State Governor will strengthen security operations in the state.
Senator Ideozu described as unfortunate the failed attempt by
Senator Magnus Abe to mislead the Senate on the Neighbourhood
Watch. He said it is within the purview of the Rivers State House
of Assembly to pass the State Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps Law
for the security of the state.
Senator Ideozu commended Governor Wike for being proactive in
the promotion of security in Rivers State by giving assent to the
three laws.
Presenting the bills, Majority Leader of the Rivers State House
of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule said that the laws provided for
stiffer penalties in the interest of the state.
He said that the Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps Bill was
passed in line with extant laws and the constitution.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani said the Rivers
State Governor has made a difference through service delivery.
In a swift reaction,Dr Dakuku Peterside,the former Governorship
candidate of All Progressives Congress,APC,has vowed he would join
people of goodwill to challenge the controversial Neighbourhood
Watch Bill signed into law by Governor Nyesom Wike in government
today.
Since Rivers House Assembly passed the Neighbourhood Watch Bill
several Rivers people including the former Majority Leader,Dr Chidi
Llyod, and Chieftain of APC and a Lawyer have voiced their opinions
against some provisions of the bill that seek members to bear arms,
in addition to the governor having the powers to direct the agency
to carry out arrest and prosecution of accused persons.
However, Dr Dakuku Peterside says such powers in the hands of
Governor Wike will only cause more harm than good, especially in a
state where several people are still wailing and mourning following
the killings that trailed the 2015 general elections and subsequent
re-run elections.
According to him, “Governor Wike has claimed on several
occasions that the state is safe, it is therefore surprising that
the same governor is now setting up a private militia as an
alternative to law enforcement agencies.
“It is obvious to the least discerning person that his
contraption is to arm his private militia. This is an attempt to
use a legal platform to illegally arm his militia. The fear of
everybody in the state is the antecedent of the governor, who has
been accused of associating with touts and criminals and it is not
surprising that some of them have been given appointments by the
same Wike.”
Dr Peterside, who is also the Director-General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) alerted members
of the public that Governor Wike has on numerous occasion, stated
that he does not have trust in the law enforcement agencies, hence
this may be the reason for creating a private army.
“This is one creation that Rivers people will vehemently reject.
Never in the history of the state has any governor sought to do
what Wike is trying to do now. Arming his militia is a signpost of
danger and only those who are discerning enough will understand the
thinking of the governor.
“Who will train the so-called Neighbourhood Watch members? Who
selects and profiles them? Who will have the authority to control
them? Who supplies the arms and registers them? Who accounts for
their activities?
“Rivers people have been through tears, sorrow and pain in the
last four years owing to the activities of thugs, kidnappers,
cultists and hired assassins. Giving guns to people who have no
formal training in arms handling and discharge may signal another
round of mayhem,” he stressed.
The former governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers declared
that he would join Rivers people to protest against the
Neighbourhood Watch Law, in addition to using every legal means
possible to challenge its propriety especially as it relates to
bearing arms by members and the unjustifiable powers giving to the
governor.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/wike-signs-controversial-neighbourhood-watch-safety-corps-law/