ONYEDI GABRIEL, PORT HARCOURT
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Inspector-General Police of compromising competence and genuine efforts at fighting criminality and insecurity in the recent posting of Rivers Commissioner of Police.
Wike said it was disappointing that the Inspector-General of Police (IG) would compromise competence in posting a Commissioner of Police to Rivers because a favour-seeking politician had approached him for such patronage.
The governor made the accusation when he led the Chief Whip of the Nigeria Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen and other dignitaries on project inspection tour in Port Harcourt and ObioAkpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State on Thursday.
Wike said such handling of touchy issues like insecurity made it difficult for him to partner with the Federal Government, especially because they were not committed to solving the insecurity plaguing the country.
He wondered why the Inspector General of Police granted such demand of posting a CP to compromise competence.
He said: “There is so much insecurity in Nigeria. There are killings everywhere and they (APC) told Nigerians that they will solve the problem. But the problem is not being solved.
“They appoint Commissioner of Police (CP) based on patronage. A politician from my state will go to see the Inspector General of Police and ask him to give him a CP.
“And the IG will not post CP based on competence to fight crime but based on the fact that the man in the party says he wants so and so person.
“When the person comes, will he fight insecurity? No. That’s the problem we have in this country today. How can I partner with such a government? A government that will not do things based on competence.”
Speaking on his motivation for his commitment to quality project delivery, Wike said, he was grateful to Rivers People for giving him the opportunity to superintendent over the affairs of the state.
In his remarks, Senator Orji Uzor, who was fascinated at the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover, Rumuogba Flyover, Mother and Child Hospital and the Real Madrid Football Academy described them as a long-term investment for the good of Rivers people.
Kalu lauded Wike for mobilising contractors with about 70 percent upfront payment saying it was paying off as projects were completed on schedule.
He said: “In the Senate, I proposed that contractors be paid 65 percent, but the Finance Bill went in for 15 percent of mobilization fee. Here, Governor Wike has just told us that he is paying 70 percent.
“So, he is thinking in the right direction. The government should start giving contractors money upfront with a guarantee so that projects don’t get abandoned, because you go all over the states of Nigeria and you will see a lot of abandoned projects. “
He described the Okoro-Nu-Odo flyover as a long-time investment that speaks for itself and “Governor Wike is not only talking, but is also working on the ground,” he added.