Jonathan ‘faults’ Gov Wike for setting up militia group in Rivers

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has told Governor Nyesom Wike what he is expected to do before setting up a volunteer service to manage the security of the state.

He said the Rivers State governor must have the cooperation from the police and the Army within the state to establish the service.

The Nigerian Army had recently said it uncovered an “illegal militia” group in Rivers State.

Governor Wike had in his response lambasted the army for disrupting the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency which the state set up to manage the security situation in the state.

But Jonathan, who was in the state with his wife Patience on Saturday to commiserated with the government and the people of the state over the collapse of a 7-Storey building in Port Harcourt that led to the loss of some lives faulted the governor on the matter.

While he let the governor know what he should do before setting up a volunteer service, he also promised to interface with President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter in order to resolve it amicably.

He said at the site of the collapsed 7-storey building at Woji road in New GRA, Port Harcourt, “I will take it up with Mr President to see how we will resolve the matter amicably in the interest of our people.

“If you don’t have the cooperation of volunteers working with the security services, we will not be able to manage the security situation.

“If a state is setting up a volunteer service to manage the security situation, we expect cooperation from the police and the Army within the state.

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“If there are any issues that should be cleared, I expect the Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding to meet with the Security Adviser to the Rivers State Governor to discuss these grey areas.

“These are extremely riverine states. Apart from the Navy, 60 percent of the personnel of the other security services cannot swim. Managing security in these states require the locals.

“When we set up the Bayelsa Volunteers, we worked with the Police to reduce piracy in the state. I have realised that without the locals, you cannot succeed in terms of managing security anywhere.”

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