There can’t be two governors in Rivers, Wike warns police chief.
Deputy commissioner of police will sign approvals for companies because he desires to gather cash.
The defaulters will be tried by mobile courts and all the impounded automobiles have to be auctioned.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Adamu Abubakar, of sabotaging the lockdown of the state.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Thursday after monitoring the compliance level of the lockdown within the state, the governor stated, “It’s unlucky to see the extent of sabotage that we get from the police, significantly the deputy commissioner of police, Operations, Rivers State Police Command.
“The deputy commissioner of police will sign approvals for firms because he desires to gather cash. I am the governor of this state and there can’t be two governors.”
He described as unlawful approvals issued by the police or every other authorities, outside the Office of the Rivers State Governor.
“The deputy commissioner of police has no powers to issue approvals when the state authorities has locked down the state. After the State Security Council met and agreed on the lockdown, the DCP went forward to issue illegal letters to firms to function. I have by no means seen that in my life.”
The governor stated those arrested for violating the lockdown would be prosecuted by the state authorities.
He stated, “All these violators have to be prosecuted at the mobile court set for this function. What we’re doing shouldn’t be for any specific particular person, it’s for the interest of the state.”
Furthermore, Wike stated the State Security Council would maintain an emergency meeting on the illegal actions of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations.
“I have called for an emergency Security Council meeting by 3pm at the moment. This can be a full sabotage by the deputy commissioner of police (operations), Rivers State Police Command. We’ll cope with that accordingly. I, nevertheless, thank the Military, the Navy and others on what they’re doing to implement the lockdown.
“For the deputy commissioner of police (operations) to sabotage us, that won’t be accepted. I arrested these people and he (the DCP) had the guts to inform them to release those I arrested on the highway because he’s gathering cash from companies. That’s unacceptable.”
Wike insisted that the impounded automobiles would be auctioned, including, “The defaulters will be tried by mobile courts and I’ve advised the attorney general, all the impounded automobiles have to be auctioned. By tomorrow, the honourable attorney-general would have marketed these automobiles and we’ll auction them.
“Some people don’t consider that coronavirus is in existence. Till you make them perceive that we’re severe, they won’t imagine it. We’ll auction the impounded vehicles. Those arrested will face the wrath of the law. No person is above the law. We won’t permit anybody to sabotage our efforts to guard our people,” he added.
