Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that many states were currently battling a wave of insecurity especially banditry that might not end soon because the ruling All Progresives Congress (APC) chose to politicise security.
According to a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, the governor stated this when he received the Board of Editors of Independent Newspapers Limited, led by the company’s Managing Director and Editor- in-Chief, Steve Omanufeme, at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday.
Wike alleged that when Rivers experienced security challenges in 2015, the Federal Government dismissed his cries for help due to ‘politics of hatred’.
“They didn’t send special forces to Rivers as they’re sending to other states now. They refused to support me because they didn’t want the state to be governable.
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“Crime knows no boundary. It can be you tomorrow. If they had brought out zeal to fight crime, with seriousness, and collaboration irrespective of the party you belong to, good result will be achieved,” Wike stated.
He added: “Banditry will never end since they’ve politicised the issue of security. I told them, ‘Don’t politicise issues of security’. They’re paying the price. Whatever you sow, you will reap. If you sow peace you’ll reap peace, if you sow trouble, trouble will always be with you.”
He lamented that it was difficult to tackle crime in situations where arrested criminals secured release without facing justice because influential people put pressure on the police and army leadership.