Sir: The Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) condemns in strong and unmistakable terms, a recent statement credited to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state asking “all political appointees and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to resist any form of arrest by security agents on trumped-up charges”.

We regard this statement which emanated from the office of an executive governor of a state who swore on oath to abide by the constitution as barbaric, crude, irresponsible, provocative, inciting, reckless, an invitation to anarchy and unbecoming of the occupant of the exalted seat of governor of a state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This call for violence by Mr. Nyesom Wike should be seen as an act of desperation and intimidation against the security agencies who are constitutionally empowered to ensure public safety and order.

Mr. Nyesom Wike by this barbaric statement of call for anarchy has shown that civility and respect for the constitution, which is one of the tenets of democracy is immaterial and irrelevant. This is unacceptable.

*Nelson Ekujumi,
Executive Chairman.