What happened won’t be allowed in 2019 —Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the people of the state will be better prepared for the 2019 elections, vowing that intimidation by security agencies would be resisted in subsequent elections in the state.

He made this known when he led thousands of supporters on a victory march across the streets of Port Harcourt, on Monday, following the legislative rerun election held in the state, last Saturday.

The governor, who allegded that security agencies aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) to perpetrate violence and killings during the election, also vowed to stop funding the law enforcement agencies in the state.

“What has happened today will not happen in 2019. Now they have told us; they will see that we will also be prepared. This will not happen again. I have told the security agencies, you come and collect security money from me and use it against Rivers people. Enough is enough. They will now be depending on NDDC for their funding. Let me see where it will take them to.

“Rivers people must work as brothers and sisters and defend our interests. We don’t have police, we don’t army, but we have God. And so, we must put our house in order and be our own police, be our own army. We have no confidence in the army; we have no confidence in the police; we have no confidence in the SSS. They have shown that there is no democracy in Nigeria”, he said.

The governor added that people who were not on ground would never win elections in Rivers State, noting those who allegedly attempted to re-colonise the state by donating monies from their state governments had been shamed by the vigilance of the people.

“Wherever they are, shame unto them. Whether they are in Abuja, Plateau, Bauchi, Benue or Kano, shame unto them. They should bury their heads in shame”, he said.

Meanwhile, the governor has commended the people of the state for standing up in defence of democracy and the interest of the state, particularly for their courage in the face of what he said was the invasion of security agencies who allegedly killed, maimed and stole ballot boxes in their bid to subvert the will of the people.

He said the ultimate sacrifice made by the people allegedly killed by security personnel was for the defence of the collective interest of the state.