The Executive Chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, has accused immediate past Rivers State Governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, of using the police to shoot at and deny residents of the local government access to their markets.
Ihunwo who revealed this on yesterday, accused Wike of using the commander of Police Anti-Cultism in the State, CSP Mohammed and the Commander of C41, CSP Masalachi to stop Oginigba people from making use of their market.
In his words: “I got information that some armed policemen have taken over the Oginigba Market. It was opened by the local government. And immediately I have to reach out to the authorities.
“I have called the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Operation. I have also spoken with the Commissioner of Police. In fact, I called him and he had to return my calls. I told him the information I got.
“Why will London and Marsalachi invade Oginigba Market and start shooting and spreading teargas on those who are trading inside the market?
“It is quite unfortunate that the Nigeria Police Force have made themselves available to be used by politicians who, in disguise, do not want peace in Rivers State.
“That market belongs to the Oginigba people and nobody can acquire land without paying the owners. As a local government, we will visit there immediately and I will tell the world what is happening.
“But I’m aware from the information that the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the closure of the market.
“For our people, I want to assure them that they should remain calm while we follow it up immediately. I also want to say that the commissioner of police should not be used by desperate people who want to own our state.
“What they are trying to do is just to cause a crisis but as a local government, two people cannot be mad at the same time. I’m going to follow it up legitimately immediately.
“I will also call back the commissioner of police to deploy those men out of there immediately. The land belongs to the Oginigba people and they should allow them at the markets.
“I also want to appeal to the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order because they are biting more than they can chew. All they are doing is to cause a crisis in our state.”
On whether Wike or his cronies bought the land in question, Ihunwo said, “They can’t buy that particular place because that particular place belongs to the people. That is ancestral land. What he did was to chase people away and took over the place.
“If you go to Grima and ask, nobody has received a kobo, a dime from Hyper City or any other person. So, the land belongs to the people. What they are doing there is just to take over the property because they want to use it for their business.
“But as a local government, we have told the owners of the land to take over their property and we opened that market. What they are doing is that they want to create a crisis.
“But as a local government, I have said that two people cannot be mad at the same time. We are going to follow it legitimately and ensure that the police will leave that particular premises.
“I want to appeal to the CP that he should not be used by the politicians who are enemies of Rivers State. What we are seeing are people who just turn into a market, started shooting and tear-gassing people because they think they are powerful.
“It is only God that is powerful. At the end of the day, we will know what will happen. But I believe that our people should remain and allow us to follow up the matter immediately.”
He said that the committee constituted to handle the allocation of the land went to the place for prayers so that they can start allocating places to people to do their business.
“When they got there, these evil men took over the place and started shooting,” he said, expressing concern that, “Nigerians are clapping and watching a man destroy democracy in Nigeria, and people are clapping.
“It is not now, it is later. You have children, you have your son, you have your daughter. What will people talk about you if you are no more. That you want to own a university? That you are shooting people because you are desperate?
“People have moved from here to Abuja, but they will die one day. For me, those policemen who are being used cannot forever be in Rivers State. They will go back to their state one day and they will go back to retire in their villages.
“Have they asked where Joseph Mbu is? Lessons should be learned. Mbu is somewhere today, he does not pick his calls. I am sorry for these characters. They will surely regret what they are doing. A day of reckoning is coming. We are not afraid.”
