Nigerian Army, Police flay Rivers Commissioner for Information over claims

The Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Police have cautioned the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Emma Okah over claims that supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state stopped an army general and the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad from tampering with election materials at the Central Bank in Port Harcourt.

The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) described Okah’s claims as “unscrupulous, wicked, most bazaar and slanderous, and frivolous”, while the state command of the Nigeria Police Force said Okah’s statement was “not only disturbing and offensive but an orchestrated attempt to cause panic and heat up the polity”.

The Police statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a Press Statement issued by Barr Emma Okah, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, on the purported interception of FSARS’ Deployment List and planned attack of PDP men and NYSC members, before and during the Elections.

“The Press Statement is not only disturbing and offensive to our collective sensibilities but an orchestrated attempt by the author to cause panic and hit up the polity, especially now that the State is passing through a crucial time in her life.

“To this end, it has become increasingly necessary to straighten the records and state as follows: That the purported Deployment List with some Names, does not bear any semblance of FSARS’ Deployment List for the 2019 Elections.

“That some of the Names mentioned in the Fake News are officers who have long been redeployed from the outfit and some for reasons of ill health are not in active service, while others are personnel on their Regular Duty Posts in Etche, Emohua, Bori and Erema, respectively.

“In the light of the foregoing, the Command hereby enjoins the general public and indeed residents of the State to disregard and discountenance the Press Statement, as same is politically motivated and intended to score cheap political points.

“As a Command, we have consistently maintained that we shall remain neutral, apolitical and professional in the discharge of our Constitutional mandate, hence we refused to be distracted by these machinations.

“We have put in place elaborate security measures to ensure that the 2019 Elections will be free, fair, credible and devoid of violence. As we continue to appeal to the politicians to play the game by the rules for a seamless exercise”.

The Nigeria Army’s statement is here reproduced below:

“RE: PDP MEMBERS STOP ARMY GENERAL ATTEMPTING TO TAMPER WITH INEC MATERIALS AT CBN; WARNS F-SARS AGAINST BRUTALISATION AND DETENTION OF MEMBERS

The attention of Headquarters 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) is drawn to some unscrupulous and wicked assertions by one Barr Emma Okah who claims to be the Director of Information and Communication of PDP Rivers State in a statement issued and published in Scannews, an online medium.

In the most bazaar and slanderous statement, Emma Okah criminally and frivolously accused the person of a respected professional (Brig Gen Nasiru Najaja) the Commander 6 Military Intelligence Brigade to the effect that the senior officer was prevented access to the Port Harcourt CBN premises by some so called PDP members who stopped him from tampering with sensitive electoral materials. Okah further went ahead to brazenly accuse the institution of the 6 Division for planning to rig the election in favour of another political party.

For the avoidance of doubt, as part of the NA’s constitutional responsibility of aiding civil authority and our mandate to safeguarding Key Points and Vulnerable Points of our dear nation, troops of 6 Division NA were accordingly deployed and further reinforced at various locations including the CBN Port Harcourt where INEC deposit sensitive materials before, during and after elections. Brig Gen Najaja as the coordinator of all deployments was at the CBN Port Harcourt and other locations to assess the level of troops deployment and alertness. This deployment must have thwarted Mr Okah’s sinister plans and that of his pay masters thereby making such frustrating statements.

Furthermore, Emma Okah and his cohorts are advised to henceforth restrict their politicking to themselves and avoid dragging the respected institution of the NA and its personnel for cheap popularity. The 6 Division and indeed the NA have over time reiterated and genuinely demonstrated our neutrality and apolitical posture and will continue to play our constitutional mandates responsively and professionally despite the distractions.

Additionally, the Division wishes to categorically demand an unreserved apology and withdrawal of the slanderous statement by Emma Okah against the NA and the person of Brig Gen Nasiru Najaja within 72 Hours of this publication failure of which will lead to institution of a legal proceedings.

To this end, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division/ Land Component Commander (LCC) JTF OPDS Maj Gen Jamil Sarham wish to reassure the good people of Rivers State and indeed the Niger Delta region of the Division’s unflinching resolve to protection of lives and properties in conjunction with other security agencies for a conducive atmosphere in the entire region. He further thanks the people for their continued support and cooperation to the Division in the area of information delivery which greatly assists the operations of the Division and urges them to do more.

You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the general public. Thank you for your usual cooperation.

AMINU ILIYASU, Colonel

Deputy Director Army Public Relations

16 February 2019

Also below is the PDP campaign council’s statement:

RIVERS STATE PDP CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

PRESS STATEMENT

PDP MEMBERS STOP ARMY GENERAL ATTEMPTING TO TAMPER WITH INEC MATERIALS AT CBN; WARNS F-SARS AGAINST BRUTALISATION AND DETENTION OF MEMBERS

Rivers State PDP Campaign Council says some vigilant PDP members have resisted Brigadier General Nojaja of 6 Division of Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt from gaining access to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Port Harcourt where sensitive INEC materials are kept.

A statement by the Director of Information and Communications of the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council Barr Emma Okah says this development is the actualisation of the alarm earlier raised by the PDP that the 6 Division of Army in Port Harcourt is planning to rig the elections in favour of the APC and defeat the right of the people of Rivers State to free, fair and peaceful polls.

"We commend the vigilance of these committed PDP members who have vowed to ensure that both INEC and security agencies do the right thing"

Meanwhile the Campaign Council demands the immediate release of Lesi Mao a PDP Chieftain from Khana Local Government Area who has been arrested, brutalised and detained by officers of F- SARS Command, Port Harcourt.

The statement further urges Rivers people to remain vigilant, resolute and strong as they defend the integrity of the electoral process in the State.

Emma Okah

Director of Information and Communications

15/02/2019