In an interview after monitoring the level of compliance on Thursday, Governor Wike said that the level of compliance is up to 95percent.
He said: “I want to commend Rivers people for the level of support they have shown. The level of compliance is quite satisfactory.
It is more than 95 percent within the two Local Government Areas .”
He regretted that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command moved to sabotage the lockdown by issuing illegal letters to companies.
“It is unfortunate to see the level of sabotage that we get from the police. Particularly, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Rivers State Police Command.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police will sign approvals for companies because he wants to collect money.
I am the Governor of this state and there cannot be two governors,” he said.
He said the approvals issued by the police or any other authorities, outside the office of the Rivers State Governor are illegal.
He said: “The Deputy Commissioner of Police has no powers to issue approvals when the State Government has locked down the state. After the State Security Council met and agreed on the lockdown, the Deputy Commissioner of Police went ahead to issue illegal letters to companies to operate. I have never seen that in my life”.
The Governor said that all those who were arrested violating the lockdown will be prosecuted by the State Government.
He said: “All these violators must be prosecuted at the mobile court set for this purpose. What we are doing is not for any particular individual, it is for the interest of the state”.
Governor Wike assured Rivers people that the lockdown will be lifted as soon as the objective is achieved.
He said: “Our people are suffering, I agree. But this is something we must do. When we examine the level of compliance and it is reasonable, of course, we will unlock the two Local Government Areas.
“It is not in our own interest that people shouldn’t come out or go to the markets. But we are talking about lives and how to protect our people.
“Look at what is happening in other parts of the country, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations wants us to suffer”.
Governor Wike said that the State Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the illegal activities of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations.
