President Buhari Orders Police To Vacate Rivers Local Governments Secretariats

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Police and other security agencies to comply with the court’ s order sacking local government chairmen in Rivers State until the Court of Appeal rules otherwise .

The police yesterday withdrew from the secretariats of the local governments in deference to the presidential directive .

It was learnt that Buhari gave the order to demonstrate his commitment to the Rule of Law contrary to the insinuations in some quarters , especially by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) .

According to the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari has made it clear that he won ’ t stop the execution of a court judgment. Shehu, who spoke with our correspondent , said : “ It is very clear from the view of the President that the judgment on the sack of the local government chairmen in Rivers State must be respected .

“ The President made it clear that he cannot stop the judgment unless it is set aside by the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.

“ In fact, the President has asked the police and security agencies why they did not enforce the court order . They said they were only at the local government secretariats to secure these public institutions because they had information that there might be backlash .

“ So, there was no question of impunity by the President in Rivers State. The attack against the President was unfair by those behind it. ”

Replying a question , Shehu said: “ Actually , the police have withdrawn from the local governments. ”

But the APC governorship candidate in the state , Dr. Dakuku Peterside, yesterday condemned an alleged impunity by Governor Nyesom Wike .

Peterside, in a statement in Abuja, said apart from the questionable borrowing of N30 billion , Wike was wrong to have dissolved state institutions created with tenured security .

He said: “ I had hoped that this government would take a cue from the Buhari administration but it is becoming obvious by the day that the Wike government does not intend to tow the path of honour and statesmanship and therefore does not deserve the trust of Rivers people .

“ On our path , we are duty -bound to protect our state and the interest of all our people and those who reside here. It is that call of duty and with the highest sense of responsibility that has compelled me to speak up.

“ Let us with continuing , unwavering faith in the True God and confidence in our judicial institutions, trust that we shall soon see the end of this era of impunity, directionlessness and crass disregard for the rights of our people and the constitution of our nation. Regardless of the darkness that has enveloped our state , we know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we vow to leave no stone unturned until our people have reached their well – deserved Eldorado. ”

Peterside queried the alleged high- handedness of the administration of Wike and why N 30 billion was borrowed by the state in 30 days.

Peterside added: “ Six weeks after assuming office, the government has not made one single policy statement, rather it appointed the Nimi Walson Jack committee to design a blueprint for the running of government after it had taken off . A move that suggests we have the case of a rudderless state manned by persons whose only bond to the state is to siphon away our resources.

“ The mindless pursuit of vendetta against individuals, chasing of shadows and brazen impunity against the long – term interest of the state .

“ Obvious lack of commitment to the development of Rivers State . A case in point is the security situation, which has continued to deteriorate with criminality promoted at the expense of the safety of our people . Kidnapping and armed robbery are now rooted and government is doing nothing.

“ Poor understanding of public finance and questionable management of public funds as is evidenced in the borrowing of N 30 bn in 30 days .

“ Elevation of impunity to a new level and crass manipulation of institutions as exemplified by the needless local government council crises being orchestrated by the government .

“ Illegal dissolution of state institutions created by the constitution with tenured security . Ready examples include the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission , Local Government Service Commission , Civil Service Commission and the Rivers State House of Assembly Commission. ”

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