Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris  not to allow politics to negatively affect the fight against insecurity.

The governor advised the Inspector General of Police to allow State Commissioners of Police to work with state governors, as that is the only way  that security can be promoted.

In his remarks at the South South Security Summit, organised by the IGP, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, yesterday, on Tuesday, Wike told the gathering he has nothing  personal against the IGP but pointed out that he will continue  to alert the police boss on security challenges in Rivers State.

“You (IGP) must allow Commissioners of Police to work closely with their respective governors, to improve the security architecture. 

“Politicisation of security is a major crime. Commissioners of police work with governors on the basis of the governor’s relationship with the powers that be.  This should not be. Let’s not bring politics into fighting crime. A kidnapper does not care about the political party of his victim. Nobody is immune from insecurity, irrespective of status.

The governor said all stakeholders must collaborate to improve security  across the country.

He said: “Let me further reiterate the point that as the nation’s number one police officer, the buck on civil security stops at the table of the IGP and he is as accountable to the public as any other public office holder.

“I wish to assure you that Rivers state, under my watch, will continue to support and collaborate with the Nigerian police and other security agencies as partners to combat insecurity not only in Rivers State but also across the nation.”

To Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, he was more concerned about the Federal Government’s reluctance to honour developmental agreements it signed with Niger Delta stakeholders.

Emmanuel said such could breed insecurity.

Speaking at the summit, yesterday, Emmanuel said sincerity and development are necessary for the peace and security of any country.

“There have been a lot of agreements, MoUs signed. One of such  was the Strategic Implementation Work Plan 2017-2019, entered into between the federal government and the region’s stakeholders where 447 projects were  to be executed in the nine states of this region, a joint  effort  by the federal government and the IOCs. Implementation of the agreement drags for months;  and as I speak now , nothing has been done.

“So when we are talking  about insecurity let us also take it from the grassroots. A young man who leaves house in the morning  and is engaged till 6:00pm, by the time he reaches house, he will be dragging  himself  to go and take a shower and has no time to think about crime.

“Let me say something  that the present  crop of governors  in  the Niger Delta have given the federal government the highest level of support  than has ever been experience. 

“When violent issues arise in the  Niger Delta,  the acting president  now vice president, went round canvassing for support and we the governors and the elders and traditional  rulers pledged their support and we all delivered.

“Today everywhere is calm,  everything thing is good; production is high and the oil price is above $50 per barrel.  How come out revenue has not improved, “ Udom asked.

On his part, the IGP said the lecture was organised across Nigeria’s geo-political zones as it is crucial in resolving  the country’s security challenges, and that it would assist the police in understanding security issues peculiar to each zone.

Idris said there was a close nexus between security and socio-conomic development of any country.

“For investors  to invest in an economy that must have confidence in the ability of the police force to prevent and detect crime,  the apprehension and prosecution of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due enforcement of all laws and regulations.”