Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has cautioned the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Abdussalam, to steer clear of the politics of the state or he would end badly if he fails to heed the advice.
Fubara gave the advice on Tuesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, when Major General Abdussalam visited him to pledge the Division’s support for his administration and to seek sustained support from the state in mutual trust for enhanced security.
The governor said: “Don’t indulge in politics. Your predecessors who indulged in politics here ended up badly. If you don’t listen and you engage, when we (Rivers people) finish our prayers, you will go with sickness.
“At this particular time, what is most critical is security. I know one of your roles is to complement Police efforts on internal security, especially when it concerns criminal activities. The army has capacity to combat this area of security.”
He alleged some civilians move freely with arms in a locality of the state where the military maintains a camp, asserting that the development raises a red flag on the role of the Army in the security of the state.
Fubara said: “I feel very embarrassed that there is a camp somewhere in Degema (local government area). It’s a military base and civilians parade arms around there.
“Is it that our laws now allow individuals to brandish AK47s, that people can display these arms before military personnel and you don’t do anything about it?
“It is an insult to the state, to federal government of Nigeria. I don’t know where it is coming from, maybe you people allow it for a reason, but you look into it.
“Also see what to do about the situation in the Elele axis. You also have a base there and we are always having challenge from people outside the state coming from that axis to cause problems.
“We will provide the material support that you desire. Also cash support for your field officers. We will continue with those items.
“Our N195.3Bn Ring Road Project cutting across six LGAs is a major one and there are every likelihood we will have security issues on that project. There are people who don’t want things done properly, who dislike development. They may want to come up with one distraction or the other. See what you can do.”
Earlier, the 6 Division GOC, Major General Abdussalam, told the host he was aware that the state government had been supporting the Army formation in the provision of fuel for Nigerian Army operations, provision of ration cash allowance for its personnel deployed and so many other assistance that cannot be quantified.
He said: “We are aware that the Rivers State government has been supporting us on provision of fuel for our operations, provision of ration cash allowance for our personnel deployed and so many other assistance that cannot be quantified.
“I solicit more support for our troops in the field and to congratulate you on the giant stride made in such a short time with flag off of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project. We know even at federal government level, this project is gigantic.
“We are happy to associate with this development. Already, the contractor assigned to this project, Julius Berger has approached us to provide additional security because of this additional task ahead and we are willing to support them because this is a project that will have impact on the country as a whole.”
