The Rivers Peoples’ Forum, RPF, has said that it would mobilize the people of Rivers State for the mother of all protests to push for the arrest and prosecution of the Nigeria’s minister of state for education, Nyesom Wike.
The group said the protest was as a result of the continued refusal of the police to arrest and prosecute minister after he had allegedly openly threatened the lives of Rivers people, and the peace and security of the state.
Wike, was at a Grassroot Democratic Initiative, GDI event in Port Harcourt quoted as saying that, “for those who think that they can destroy Obio-Akpor (Local Government Council), we will make life uncomfortable for them. We will make sure they will not sleep again. When they are sleeping, they will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open because they know there is danger”.
Wike was referring to the former Chairman and Councilors of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area who were suspended by the Rivers State House of Assembly to enable the House carry out investigations of alleged monumental fraud and corruption against them.
However, RPF had last week called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the junior minister over the comments, which they described as dangerous to democracy in the country, threatening to the peace and security of Rivers State, adding that it could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.
RPF in the statement signed by its President, Charles Bekwele described the comments of Wike as a direct threat to the good people of Rivers State, since the Assembly members acted on behalf of the people who elected and mandated the Assembly members to represent them.
The group said, “It is a shame, an outrage that the police instead of arresting and prosecuting Wike is allowing him to arrogantly and pompously roam the streets, making more provocative and hateful comments against the state and its people”, the group said in a statement, Monday.
“And this is the same police that have declared wanted and arrested supporters of Governor Amaechi for extremely flimsy reasons. So why are they not arresting a man who openly threatened the people, the peace and security of the State? Is Nyesom Wike above the law?”
“Again, we are calling on the Inspector-General of Police: Arrest and prosecute Nyesom Wike now for threatening the lives of Rivers people, for threatening the peace and security of Rivers State. As a matter of fact, his comments are dangerous to our democracy, Wike is a danger to our democracy. Since that young man (Wike) was appointed junior minister, he has carried on like a demi-god, acting like he’s above the law. Wike’s excesses must be brought to a halt. Rivers people have had enough of Wike’s shenanigans. And the time to act is now.
“This is a man who has practically abandoned his job at the ministry of education for politics and political campaigns. Every week, Wike is in Rivers State campaigning, he claims to be campaigning for Mr. President but that’s a big fat lie. Except he’s saying that Mr. President has commenced campaigns for 2015. He’s campaigning for his own governorship, even when he knows there’s no vacancy, at least for now.
“We are ready to march on the streets of Port Harcourt if the police refuse to act and allow this impunity and aggression by one man against the people of the state to continue. This will be the mother of all protests as we shall mobilize Rivers people from all over to come out and tell the police in very lucid terms that they will not allow Nyesom Wike to threaten their lives, their peace and security while the police whose duty it is to protect us, do nothing to protect the people. This is the time to arrest and prosecute Wike”.
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