Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed probe of an audio clip that circulated after the legislative rerun election.
Recall that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Ibrahim Idris has set up a panel to probe the audio as well as some Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials.
In his reaction, Wike accused security agencies of working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) .
Wike said it was unfortunate that despite being the chief security officer, some heads of security agencies in the state take orders from powers that be.
In a chat with newsmen, Wike said: “Tell INEC, tell the Nigerian police, tell the Nigerian security that I want free and fair elections.
“What causes violence? I was here and they wanted to stop the results of my senatorial district from being declared. If in the course of resisting rigging, they shoot somebody, will there not be violence?
“Why will you carry materials and give to the other party to the detriment of the other party? We said, allow everybody to vote. Now, you use security agencies to hijack the materials, to beat up our agents.
“Why can’t they tell you the simple truth? If they conduct free and fair elections in this State today, who will win? Who is going to lose if there’s violence?
“We want elections. Let’s see who is more popular. You (APC) don’t want election. You want to bring collation officers that will do your own bidding.
“You want to bring INEC officers to do your own bidding. We have no problem, bring whoever you want to bring, but let there be elections. When you win, you won’t blame the person that collated. What kind of system is this?
“The only condition for peace in Rivers is free and fair elections like it’s done all over the world”.
On probe of the audio clip, Governor Wike replied: “You look at me and I’ll talk to INEC adhoc staff? And they said I asked where the man is from…the person I gave money and I don’t know where he comes from?
“Okay, it resembles my voice? I can plant your voice now. Even as I am now, you can take my voice and plant somewhere. Let them bring their own video evidence. We have shown ours where you can see what policemen were doing during the election. I hear they said it was through somebody’s phone that I spoke.
“The only person I can even talk to as far as INEC is concerned is the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) or the national chairman or commissioner of INEC.
“Why will I even descend (so low ) to talk to an adhoc staff? We have over 2,000 INEC adhoc staff. Which one did I talk to? Which one did I not talk to? So, please discard some of these stories”.
“Investigate who? Embark on an inquiry on who? We have video evidence of police helping to rig the election for them (APC), but they are denying that they are not policemen.
“Police is denying something everyone saw the SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) man that came. You are saying they are not policemen”.
Wike, who insisted that the election was rigged for the APC, added “Let them show us the server where they offloade the result. Let them show us.
“Let me tell you why nobody can come after me. Nobody can take my life. Only God can. He gives, he takes. You who is planning to take, who told you you’ll be there tomorrow?”
“They took my orderly, they took my Chief Security Officer, they took my escort commander. You don’t know God’s plans. People should take it easy. Anything can happen tomorrow. You never can tell”
Daily Post