Army staged coup against Rivers during polls — Wike – TheNigerialawyer

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State said on Monday that the
Nigerian Army staged a coup against the state during the 2019
elections.

Wike also described the actions of the Army as the worst in the
nation’s democratic history.

The governor said this while addressing the Joint House of
Representatives’ committees on Army, Police, Human Rights and
Justice at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Wike said the troops of the Nigerian Army acted illegally
because they were working to impose a pre-determined leadership on
the state.

He said, “It is really unfortunate. All of us know that there
was a coup in this state, organised by the Nigerian Army. In the
history of this country, it has never happened; whereby during an
ordinary election, the Army will begin to kill people for no just
cause.

“Because they believe a particular person or a particular party
must win, it doesn’t matter how many people die. It was shown on
national television. We watched how the Army invaded the entire
electoral commission.”

He expressed regret that the Federal Government had never worked
to assist the Rivers State Government to fight insecurity.

“This is the only state the Federal Government has never
assisted to fight insecurity. Instead of us to team up and fight
insecurity, you politicise it.

“Even if you make recommendations, nothing will happen. I don’t
know whether we are in a military regime or civil administration,”
he said.

The governor noted that aside the Army, the Federal Special
Anti-Robbery Squad had been a major anti-democratic force in the
state, since the 2016 rerun elections.

He pointed out that the F-SARs murdered a PhD holder and a
chartered accountant just because they wanted to subvert the will
of the people.

Wike wondered why the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of
the Nigerian Army had not been punished despite the negative roles
he played during the elections.

“The GOC here is a politician. Nothing has happened to him
because he was sent. If it was when the country was a country, you
cannot be keeping that GOC. He is sabotaging the security network,”
he said.

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!