Pro-Wike supporters defy police order, protest in Rivers

Despite calls by the police on the organised labour and other groups to suspend their planned protest over the local government tenure elongation crisis in Rivers State, some supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom, defied the order to stage a protest on Monday.

The protesters displayed placards with several inscriptions to explain their actions.

Numbering about 100, the protesters gathered near the post office along Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt and marched to the Port Harcourt City Local Government Secretariat along Bank Road, where the police barricade continued.

Some of the writings on the placards read, “Police keep to your words, CTC is unconstitutional’, let the court decide’ amongst others.

Recall that the state police command in a statement by its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, had advised the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees and other groups to suspend their planned protest to prevent miscreants from infiltrating their ranks.

However, addressing newsmen, the protesters said they were at the council headquarters to register their support for the police to remain at the 23 LG councils of the state to forestall further violence.

One of the conveners, who identified himself as Kingsley Ohunda, said, “We are Rivers people, and as you can see, this a harmless and an armless protest.

“The police have asked everybody to stay clear of the council premises, that is what we are doing, and we are ensuring that, because we got an information that there are people who are trying to protest and ask the police to leave the gate, which we are saying no to.

“The matter before the Court is going to be decided soon. When that matter is decided, whoever is supposed to be in the council goes to the council.

“So what we are saying is that the police should remain and maintain peace and order. As you can see, we are peaceful and law-abiding. What we are doing is to ensure that democracy has its focus.”

Ohinda, urged the police to keep their word and ensure no one has access to the council premises, saying, “If not we are also going to gain entrance there and you know that won’t be nice for all of us. ”

Another protester, China Chinda, decried the loss of lives, including a policeman in the wake of the crisis, saying we don’t need that anymore in Rivers.

He added, “They promised to protect lives and property, so we are here to solicit with that and then to remind them to abide and keep to that promise.

On her part, a lady identified as Mrs Rose Wori reiterated the call for the police to remain at the council premises pending the Court’s ruling on the matter, saying the setting up of a Caretaker Committee is against the construction.

“We are here to make peace and order, we want peace in our state, we want peace in our LGAs. We the women of Rivers State have come to tell the police to stay until the court decides what happens next.”