Impeachment plot: Security beefed up in Rivers, patrols intensified

 Security was yesterday beefed up in Rivers State, particularly in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Patrols were also intensified over an alleged plot by five of the 32 members of the Rivers State House of assembly loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to remove Governor Rotimi Amaechi, using the Dariye option.

Many military and police patrol vehicles were seen on major roads in Port Harcourt, with the operatives engaged in stop-and-search to prevent illegal movement of arms and ammunition.

The operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the State Security Service (SSS) were also not left out of the security beef-up at a time the battle line is drawn between Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Wike, who wants to succeed Amaechi in 2015. Both of them are of the Ikwerre tribe.

A source close to the JTF, who asked not to be named, said it was true that patrol had been intensified in Port Harcourt in order not to take chances and to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

The secretariat of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, sealed off by policemen on May 3, remained sealed yesterday.

The Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG Council, Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke and all the 17 councillors, were suspended on April 22 by the 27 pro-Amaechi legislators.

The pro-Wike lawmakers: Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III), kicked against the suspension of Nsirim and others.

The lawmakers insisted that there was no petition against Nsirim as being insinuated. They described his suspension as illegal, saying there should not have been any need for a caretaker committee.

Following the suspension of elected officials of Obio/Akpor LG, a seven-member caretaker committee, headed by Dike David Chikordi, was earlier screened by members of the Rivers Assembly on April 23 and inaugurated on the same day by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), George Feyii.

source: the nation