Rivers to sue Police, DSS for sealing off venue of PDP convention

Rivers state government said it would sue the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), for sealing off the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt, which was intended to be used as the venue for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National convention on Wednesday.

The governor, Nyesom Wike berated the police and the DSS for disregarding a court judgment directing them to provide security for the convention, adding that all the armoured personnel carriers used by the security agents to invade the stadium were bought and serviced by his administration.

While inaugurating the peace and security committee of the State at government House Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said the state would sue the police. The governor, who is infuriated by the action of the security agents, explained that the Rivers State Government will seek judicial interpretation to determine if the Federal Government was right to take laws into their hands by using the police and DSS to prevent PDP delegates from holding their convention at the stadium owned by the State government.

He also stated that the people of the state allowed the security agencies take over state facilities, because of the visitors from other states. The governor advised the security agencies not to think that the illegal invasion of Sharks Stadium and other government property was a dress rehearsal for the rigging of the forthcoming rerun elections in the State.

“I hope what you did that day is not what you plan to do during the rerun elections. We allowed it because we had visitors from outside. Nobody will allow you rig elections in this state” he counseled. Wike urged members of the committee to work towards promoting security of lives and property within the ambit of the law.

He also criticised the prison authorities for playing politics with the production of a murder suspect in court for trial. Responding on behalf of the Peace and Security Committee, Navy Commodore Obi Egbuchulam assured that the security agencies would work towards promoting peace in the state for businesses to thrive.

The membership of the committee include Commander of the NNS Pathfinder, the representative of the Nigerian Army, the Rivers State Police Commissioner, the Director DSS, Comptroller of Prisons, Comptroller of Customs, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, Comptroller of Immigration, Commander of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a representative of the State Traditional Council.