Drama as Army Parades Soldier, Wike’s Aides, Others for Electoral Offences · Allege Governor’s Attempt to Induce Military to Rig Elections · It’s a frame up, say suspects

Drama ensued on Tuesday at the Officers Mess of headquarters of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt when the army paraded a soldier, four policemen attached to Government House, the state Commissioner for Urban Development, Dr. Reason Onyia and others for various offences during last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The suspects also included the member representing Ahoada West Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Opokri Wanaka, some ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some youths.

When Onyia, Wanaka and other suspects were paraded before journalists, they screamed their innocence and declared that they were being framed by the army.

They police officers paraded with some AK-47 riffles also stated their innocence and that it was wrong for the army to parade them with riffles officially assigned to them as if they had illegally acquired them.

They also stated that they were performing their official duties when they were accosted by the soldiers and taken to the Port Harcourt Barracks, headquarters of 6 Division.

The continued screaming of the suspects marred the live television airing of the programme.

Addressing journalists, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said the army wanted to show the modest achievements of troops of 6 Division NA in close collaboration and synergy with all other security agencies in the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) which covers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.

He stated: “The period leading to the 23 February 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections witnessed a lot of political activities and manoeuvres by political actors which is normal in a democracy, however, most worrisome and dangerous is the employment of political thugs by some desperate politicians to disrupt a legitimate national process for their pecuniary gains.

“Equally of grave concern is the daring attempt by the Governor of Rivers State Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to compromise security agencies particularly troops of 6 Division NA with hefty financial inducements to help him in his illegitimate act of thwarting a free and fair electoral process to his favour while accusing the NA and its command hierarchy of bias daily.  Apparently, Governor Wike must have underestimated the NA’s commitment to being professionally responsive in the discharge of our constitutional roles.”

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, had over time reiterated and demonstrated the army’s resolve to being apolitical, neutral and unbiased.

“He has also left no one in doubt of our total and absolute loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, no amount of cheap blackmail and unsubstantiated allegations will make us bulge,” Iliyasu said.

He added: “While we do not intend to join issues with any one, however, it has become expedient to bring to the notice of the general public the actual reasons behind Governor Wike’s attrition against the NA and its leadership with the hope that he will finally sheath his sword and publically apologise to the NA as we present to you the following shocking discoveries.”

He recalled that the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, had on February 15, issued a statement alleging that a very senior officer of the command was attempting to tamper with INEC sensitive materials at the CBN Port Harcourt premises.

He said while the army refuted the allegation and demanded an apology from Okah within 72 hours or face legal action, the commissioner has “arrogantly refused to heed the advice”.

He stated: “Ironically, on Saturday 23rd February 2019 at about 8:45 am following a tip up on attempt by Governor Wike’s aids to induce and compromise troops deployed at the CBN Port Harcourt premises, own personnel Maj AP Ubah and 3 other Police personnel, DSP Oyoku Ifelle (Camp Comdt Rivers State Govt House), Sgt Akanu Garba, Inspector Hycent Oboi and Sgt Nketan Chucks were arrested by a team from HQ 6 Div.

He said preliminary investigations discovered the sum of N2.5 million in a Range Rover belonging to the DSP. He said other items recovered were four INEC 2019 Electoral Tags, Customised Rivers State Government House brown envelopes while N500,000 was found in the Toyota vehicle belonging to Maj AP Ubah “which he confessed was given to him by the Governor’s aids in addition to offer of a well-furnished accommodation for the period of his tour of duty”.