Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State from making “unfounded allegations” against the Nigerian police.
He stated that threatening to shed blood and burn down the state because of a local government election is not acceptable to the police.
His statement comes after Fubara said Egbetokun will be held accountable if there’s break down of law and order in the state.
Recall that the governor at the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on Friday morning had prevented an alleged attempt by the police to remove materials meant for the upcoming local government elections.
However, Egbetokun, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated how displeased he was regarding the false accusations levied on the police by Fubara in a bid of pursuing his political career.
The statement reads partly,”The Nigeria Police Force has noted with concern the recent statements made by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, in which several unfounded allegations were leveled against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force. In light of these claims, it has become necessary to set the record straight.
“Firstly, it is important to clarify that there is a subsisting Federal High Court order barring the Nigeria Police Force from participating in the Rivers State elections.
“As a law-abiding institution, the IGP instructed the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to strictly adhere to this court order by refraining from any direct involvement in the election process.
“It is also important to note that prior to this, there had been series of security breaches in the state following the spate of court orders and counter orders and reactions to them by supporters of the different political parties involved.
” The response of the Command to secure RIEC overnight was therefore professional and supported by the Inspector-General of Police.
“It is therefore shocking to see the state governor storming the RIEC office at night, wrongly accusing the police on lawful duties, deriding the Police institution and using unprintable words to describe the Inspector-General of Police.
” The Nigeria Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the Governor and particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals.
“Threatening to shed blood and to burn down the State because of a Local Government election is not acceptable to us.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to protection of lives and properties and will work with other security agencies in Rivers State to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in the State.”
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