Wike lament over withdrawal of CSO

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has told the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, that the withdrawal of his Chief Security Officer has exposed his life to danger, lamenting that “I am empty”.

This Saturday (December 10) has been set aside as date for the legislative rerun election in Rivers state both for members of the National Assembly and state legislature. It is feared that the polls may come with violence as major actors seem to be beating the drums of war.

Wike however requested the IGP to transfer the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Steven Hasso, and the Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Akin Fakorede, for deliberately compromising the security for alleged partisan reasons.

He made this demand while receiving the IGP at the Government House in Port Harcourt, regretting that without consultations, Idris took sides with Hasso, who allegedly attempted to invade Government House with APC supporters.

The Governor said he was shocked by the statement released by the Office of the Inspector General of Police that his Chief Security Officer was withdrawn for misconduct.

He told Idris that contrary to his claim, his Chief Security Officer was withdrawn for misconduct; his CSO only stopped Hasso and the APC members from invading the Government House.

In the words of Wike, “The moment you touch my Chief Security Officer, you are telling me that you are ready for me. As I sit, I am empty, I have no protection.

“When people start to embarrass the governor, take his CSO without information, it is completely wrong. What you have done is the highest disrespect to the office of the governor.

“I am pleading with you, my life is very important. I will take any CSO you bring to me that I don’t know? This is a matter of security and protection, it is not what you do with levity.

“If the police want free and fair elections, the police will get free and fair elections.”