Neighbourhood Safety Corps: The members will carry arms, similar to Lagos Governor Wike says

Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt

 

As the controversy over the establishment of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch Safety Corps rage  Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared the state government only modelled  Neighbourhood Safety Corps after that of Lagos state and does not see the cause of uproar by members of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

 

He vowed that the controversial Neighbourhood watch has come to stay in the state, noting that opponents of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps should approach the courts for redress.

 

This is as the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State declared her support for  the Neighbourhood Safety Corps set up  by Governor Wike. They stated that it will help resolve the security challenges in the state.

 

Speaking during a Courtesy Visit by the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rivers State at the  Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Governor Wike said he will not be moved by the negative propaganda, blackmail and politicization of security by the APC.

 

He said: “I assented to a law constitutionally passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and  they say I must be punished for carrying out my constitutional responsibility.  I prefer that I have done my work, so I can die than not doing it and still die.

 

On the issue of members bearing arms the Governor said:

“What are they afraid of that they are telling people that they will carry arms. Look at what the law says. If you are giving out information, criminals will come after you. They will not carry arms without the approval of the Security Agencies .

 

“They are now trying to politicise the whole outfit.  The law has come to stay. If they don’t like it, the courts are there for them to challenge it.”

 

Speaking further, Governor Wike said: “Rivers State Government was not the first state that initiated Neighbourhood Safety Corps.  It was started by Lagos State Government.

 

“When criminal activities became so much in the state, everyone focused on prayers and did everything humanly  possible to support security agencies.  When I took over in 2015, they repeatedly changed Commissioners of Police.  I bemoaned the incessant changes that  disorganised the security architecture of the state.

 

“That was how they planned to  declare State of Emergency in Rivers State. They claimed  there was so much crime.  I cried for help, but they refused to help. I told them that God sees their  refusal to help  and it will lead to national crisis.

 

“What is happening today? We are no longer  talking of kidnapping, we are confronted with killings everyday in different parts of the country. Whether you call it Fulani versus farmers, community versus community, whether you call it terrorists or whatever colouration you want to give it, killings everywhere. ”

 

The governor said  that  under the Presidential System, the Legislature passes a law, while  it is the constitutional  responsibility of the governor to  assent.

 

He said: “They thought they want to paint Rivers State  black, now Nigeria is black. If they had come to our rescue to support us then, if they had not played politics with the  security of Rivers State, maybe God may have forgiven.  But because they thought we have nobody, they shot their eyes.

 

“This  Neighbourhood Safety Corps, we just went  to Lagos, studied what Lagos State did and replicated it here. Federal Government never said anything against Lagos State.

 

“Today, security has gone  beyond carrying of guns. We must have to get intelligence.  We must be proactive.  We don’t have the number of security men that can cover all the communities.  We adopted what Lagos State.  We are employing men and women who are committed  to make sure that this state is safe.  These young men and women will give intelligence to security agencies and work in synergy with them”

 

He described as baseless, allegations  that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps would be armed to attack opposition elements.

 

The governor  thanked the Christian Association of Nigeria for their support for his administration, saying that he will not let them down.

 

“But for the prayers of Christians, the state would  have  been subdued by challenges. It would have been very difficult for us to carry out our assignments. The state has been persecuted for no just reason”, he said.

 

He reiterated  the need for Christians  to register in their numbers, so that they can positively  influence the political direction of Rivers State.

 

Read Also: Governor WIKE Swears in four new Commissioners, hints of minor cabinet reshuffle

 

He said that INEC has nominated a resident electoral commissioner who has not been screened, but the nominee knows  that he will be deployed to Rivers State.

 

Presenting the position of the Rivers State Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Dan Obinna said that Rivers Christians are happy with the performance of the Rivers State Governor.

 

He commended Governor Wike for the execution of projects that impact the lives of the people positively.

 

“We use this forum once again  to congratulate you on your execution of projects that positively touch the lives of the people”, Director of Legal Affairs of Rivers State Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Dan Obinna said.

 

While congratulating the Rivers State Governor for the numerous national and international awards, Rivers State CAN urged the  governor  to sustain his outstanding performance.

 

“We join all other progressive people to say that the Rivers State Governor has done well. We knew it from the beginning, that was why we started the spree of encouragement when we awarded you the Apostle of Peace.

 

“We commend you on your frontal approach on the  issue of security in the state.  We especially commend you for the establishment of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, which is your most recent strategy in handling security matters in the state.