Wike cautions against assigning soldiers to politicians

Governor says it is a threat to national security

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has urged the Army High Command to desist from posting soldiers to politicians, saying it is counter-productive and a threat to national security. 

He said it was a misnomer for the command to post battalions of soldiers to politicians.The governor said this yesterday during the flag-off of the construction of the Old Aba Road by Mbano junction in Oyigbo Local Council of the state.

Wike said all over the world, only the Commander-in-Chief has soldiers guarding him. He stressed that the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, should go beyond complaining that politicians are hobnobbing with soldiers and take action to check the disturbing trend.

The governor stated that it was regrettable that in Nigeria, the authorities have made it a practice to assign soldiers to politicians in the good books of the Federal Government, alleging that those soldiers are often used to perpetrate undemocratic actions against the people.

“Who are those approving battalions of soldiers to politicians? If they don’t want soldiers to follow politicians, they should stop giving soldiers to politicians. It is only in Nigeria that soldiers follow politicians. They should stop soldiers from being security details to politicians. Somebody comes home and they will give him battalions of soldiers and they say soldiers should not hobnob with politicians.

“All over the world, it is only the commander-in-chief that is allowed to use soldiers. But here, you see soldiers following politicians everywhere,” said Wike.

The governor assured the people of the area that the road project would be completed on schedule, adding that the old Market Road to Afam town would be awarded and constructed by his administration.

He said since the APC Federal Government has refused to complete the East West Road, his administration would continue to develop alternative routes to lubricate the Rivers economy.

The state’s Works Commissioner, Mr. Iheanyichuwu Bathuel, said that old Aba Road by Mbano junction is a critical economic road that connects neighbouring states.Also, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Oyigbo Local Council, Dr. Gbali Chisom, lauded Governor Wike for commencing the construction of the road.