Wike To CDS: Make Us Proud, Tackle Insurgency

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, to make his people proud by
reducing the level of insurgency in the country.

Citing terrorism as one of the biggest threat to the country,
the governor promised to liaise with the Nigerian Governors Forum
(NGF) to vote more money for the procurement of arms and other
equipment for the military to end insurgency.

Wike spoke at the weekend when Irabor and other top military
officers paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port
Harcourt.

The governor told Irabor that God in his infinite wisdom deemed
it necessary for him to be in charge of the military at a time when
the Minister of Defence declared that Nigeria was bleeding. He
said: “You have been brought in to see how you can solve the
security problems of this country. For us as a Government we have
no choice but to support the security agencies, particularly, the
Army now that we have terrorists’ activities in this country.”

The governor said no sane government would fold its arms when
the country was grappling with unprecedented security threats
orchestrated by non-state actors. He said: “I believe you will make
us proud by ensuring you reduce the level of insurgency.” Wike
expressed dismay over what he called the misappropriation of $1bn
withdrawn from Excess Crude Account to procure arms and other
equipment for the military.

He wondered how anyone would expect the armed forces to fight
bandits and terrorists without requisite equipment. He said
irrespective of the controversy surrounding the $1bn, he would
support the NGF’s authorisation of additional money to equip the
Armed Forces. The Rivers governor disclosed that the Army would
soon take delivery of the five gunboats the state government
promised to donate to them.

He thanked the Nigerian Army for proactively checking the
activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and
not giving any room for any terrorists attack in the state. The
governor assured the CDS that the state government would continue
to support the Army and other security agencies.

In his remarks Irabor commended Wike and the Government of
Rivers State for supporting the Army and other security agencies.
He appealed to the citizens of the state and the Niger Delta to
continue to sustain the peace in the region to boost economic
activities. Irabor said he was in the state to assess some of the
various operational activities of the armed forces and to meet with
the personnel.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, to make his people proud by
reducing the level of insurgency in the country.

Citing terrorism as one of the biggest threat to the country,
the governor promised to liaise with the Nigerian Governors Forum
(NGF) to vote more money for the procurement of arms and other
equipment for the military to end insurgency.

Wike spoke at the weekend when Irabor and other top military
officers paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port
Harcourt.

The governor told Irabor that God in his infinite wisdom deemed
it necessary for him to be in charge of the military at a time when
the Minister of Defence declared that Nigeria was bleeding. He
said: “You have been brought in to see how you can solve the
security problems of this country. For us as a Government we have
no choice but to support the security agencies, particularly, the
Army now that we have terrorists’ activities in this country.”

The governor said no sane government would fold its arms when
the country was grappling with unprecedented security threats
orchestrated by non-state actors. He said: “I believe you will make
us proud by ensuring you reduce the level of insurgency.” Wike
expressed dismay over what he called the misappropriation of $1bn
withdrawn from Excess Crude Account to procure arms and other
equipment for the military.

He wondered how anyone would expect the armed forces to fight
bandits and terrorists without requisite equipment. He said
irrespective of the controversy surrounding the $1bn, he would
support the NGF’s authorisation of additional money to equip the
Armed Forces. The Rivers governor disclosed that the Army would
soon take delivery of the five gunboats the state government
promised to donate to them.

He thanked the Nigerian Army for proactively checking the
activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and
not giving any room for any terrorists attack in the state. The
governor assured the CDS that the state government would continue
to support the Army and other security agencies.

In his remarks Irabor commended Wike and the Government of
Rivers State for supporting the Army and other security agencies.
He appealed to the citizens of the state and the Niger Delta to
continue to sustain the peace in the region to boost economic
activities. Irabor said he was in the state to assess some of the
various operational activities of the armed forces and to meet with
the personnel.