Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has advised that the military need to play a lesser role in political activities to allow civilians exercise their franchise in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and undue influence.
Amaechi said this when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, led a delegation of top ranking Army Officers on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, who hails from Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State is visiting Amaechi for the first time since his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff.
Amaechi gave his advise on the backdrop of the militarization of the just concluded Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.
“The military need to play lesser role in politics. I have said that severally. I am sure you will ensure that the relationship between the military, civilians and politicians is cordial, such that the 2015 elections would not be controversial”, he noted.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army for its role in the fight against militancy and criminality in Rivers State.
Amaechi also used the opportunity to appeal to the Army to leverage on its strong security networks to help stamp out kidnapping in the state as further perpetration could crumble the fast growing economy of the state.
He said: “We have a peaceful co-existence in Rivers State with the military. And we cannot claim to have fought militancy if not for the support of the 2nd Brigade, Bori Camp.
“There was a period it was so bad, they had to get more soldiers from outside to join the soldiers here in Rivers State. After that, you could freely drive around peacefully until recently.
“The situation in Rivers State is gradually going back to what it used to be in 2006, 2007, and 2008. It is not the cause of the Brigade Commander or the Army. The problem is that politicians are back and they have brought back the boys.
“They say, they are freedom fighters. Now what are they fighting for? I have argued that the reason for which the militancy was set up was to get the Presidency to the South-South region. We no longer hear about resource control.
“And if we cannot control our resources, then we need to go back to our houses and allow the government in power to govern the state.
“I want the 2nd Amphibious Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bori Camp to work with us, because we need to stamp out kidnapping in Rivers State.
“There are competing economies in the country and the largest of all is Lagos while the second is Rivers State and if kidnapping continues, our economy will crash, unemployment will rise and we may not be able to compete with the comity of states”, Amaechi said.
While congratulating the Chief of Army Staff on his appointment, Amaechi called for improved funding and support for the Nigerian Army.
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