Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on the International
Community to focus on the forthcoming general elections to stop the
planned manipulation by the APC Federal Government.
This is as the British Government has declared that it expects the 2019
General elections to be peaceful, free and fair.
Governor Wike said it is incumbent on the international community,
especially the United Kingdom, United States of America and the European
Union to repeat the 2015 feat when they monitored all the processes.
He spoke on Wednesday at the Government House Port Harcourt when he
granted audience to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona
Laing.
He said: “We appeal to the international community to focus on the
forthcoming general elections.
“This is not the first time the international community will be doing
this. In 2015, the United Kingdom, European Union and the United States
actively monitored the elections”.
He said that the Failed APC Federal Government was foisted on the country
by the western powers.
While declaring that the Government and people of Rivers State are
committed to peaceful polls, Governor Wike charged the United Kingdom to
prevail on INEC and security agencies not to manipulate the elections.
“Talk to INEC and the Police to allow Nigerians to vote freely and for
their votes to count. Any attempt to manipulate the elections, will make
the issue to be out of control of the people “, he said.
Governor Wike said that the plot by the APC Federal Government to shutdown
internet and communication access would make it impossible for the
international community and stakeholders to monitor the elections.
The governor said that there can be no violence if elections are free and
fair. He regretted that the legal outlet for seeking redress has been
destroyed by the APC Federal Government through the attacks on the
judiciary.
Earlier, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing encouraged
all stakeholders to work towards peaceful and credible polls.
She said she Rivers State is important to the country, pointing out that
peaceful polls in the state will have positive multiplier effect .
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing added that she
was also in the state to acquaint herself with the environmental
challenges facing the state.