***Warns IGP Egbetokun Against Inciting Chaos
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the people of Rivers State to rally behind Governor Siminilaye Fubara to ensure a peaceful and transparent local government election. In a statement released in Abuja on Friday, Frank also issued a stern warning to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging him not to allow the police force to become a tool for causing unrest in Rivers.
Frank accused the police of partisanship and urged the international community to hold IGP Egbetokun responsible for any violence or damage that might arise during the election process.
He expressed concern over what he described as “illegal instructions” being given to the police, allegedly orchestrated by former Rivers State Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Frank claimed that Wike, who is reportedly using his influence in collaboration with federal authorities, is attempting to derail the election to impose his political allies. He warned that Wike’s alleged plot to disrupt the democratic process is backed by claims that he has the President’s full support to act with impunity in Rivers State.
“The President’s silence on this matter suggests complicity,” Frank said, adding that any breakdown in law and order during the election would be traced back to the actions of the federal government and its agents in the state.
Frank also urged Governor Fubara to assert his authority and ensure that Rivers State does not fall into chaos, as the people of the state have fully backed him. He stressed the importance of maintaining a free and fair election, free from intimidation or interference by external forces.
He further criticized the police for prioritizing Wike’s political interests over the security and wellbeing of Rivers citizens. Frank warned that any conflict in the state could have far-reaching effects on the national economy, given the state’s key role in Nigeria’s oil production.
As a ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, Timi Frank also called on global leaders and organizations to monitor the situation closely to prevent Rivers State from descending into chaos.