▪Governor Wike alleges plot to declare state of emergency in
Rivers State
The illegal siege on Rivers State by Federal eecurity
agencies continued unabated during the early hours of Saturday as hundreds of
Department of State Services (DSS) operatives and policemen attempted to
illegally abduct a Federal High Court judge residing at Number 35 Forces Avenue
in Port Harcourt
The illegal failed abduction was led by Mr Tosin Ajayi,
Rivers State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Rivers
State Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Odesanya.
The operatives of DSS reportedly rough-handled Governor
Wike, pushing him around and injuring his hand. A few of the operatives cocked
their rifles and threatened to shoot the Governor.
They were irked by Governor Wike's arrival at the scene
shortly after the failed abduction process began. It was learnt that Governor
Wike received security information on the illegal moves, minutes after the
operation started.
The security operatives blocked the entrance of the
residence of the Federal High Court judge at about 1am on saturday morning,
claiming that they were acting on orders from above. As they dragged Governor
Wike, they insisted that they must be allowed to leave with the judge.
However, the commotion attracted passers by and journalists
who thronged the vicinity to know why hundreds of security agents in several
Patrol vans had been mobilised.
Upon the arrival of the national media, the Rivers State
Director of the DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi jumped into his vehicle and fled the scene.
However, addressng journalists, Rivers State Police
Commissioner, Francis Odesanya said the two security agencies were at the scene
because they received privileged information.
Odesanya claimed he was at the scene as a peace maker. He
declined comments on why the Police joined the DSS to abduct a serving Federal
High Court judge.
In an interview with journalists at the scene of the failed
illegal abduction of a Federal High Court judge by the Police and DSS, Governor
Wike said it will not be under his watch that security agencies wiĺl be allowed
to entrench needless impunity.
He declared that their reckless action portends danger to
the nation's democracy, noting that he is convinced that President Buhari is
not aware of the level of impunity being perpetrated by Federal Securiy
agencies.
Governor Wike stated that whatever the situation, the rule
of law must prevail in a democratic setting.
He said if the security agencies had a lawful directive to
implement, they must follow due process .
According to him: "Not under my watch wiĺl I allow this
kind of impunity to take place. That is why we are here. I don't know which
judge they were detailed to abduct. I didn't bother myself to know which judge.
All I am interested in is that, at this level, it is not allowed.
"He is not a criminal and he is not an armed robber. If
the person has committed an offence, invite him. It is only when he refuses to
honour the invitation that you can adopt this commando style.
"The Commissioner of Police is here, the Director of
DSS is here. Their operatives cocked their guns and threatened to shoot me. I
have never seen that before. Again , this is to tell you what we are facing .
We know that more will come. For us in this state, we shall continue to resist
it."
Governor Wike added: "It doesn't matter what it will
cost. When you talk about liberty, sacrifices must be made. We are not trying
to stop an arrest. All we are saying is that things must be done decently and
in line with the rule of law.
"Rivers State is under siege. For you to see a governor
out at this time of the day, something is wrong. A siege is an understatement.
If this type of thing happens next time, the people wiĺl resist it to the
last".
The governor stressed: "They are trying to do something
funny in this state, probably to declare a state of emergency.
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