Egbetokun replies Fubara, warns Gov to stop levelling false allegations against him

Egbetokun also told Governor Fubara that threatening to shed blood and burn down the state is not acceptable to the police

By Kehinde Okeowo

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has told River State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to stop levelling “unfounded allegations” against him.

TheNiche had earlier reported that Fubara intervened in an incident at the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC), on Friday morning.

A source alleged that the governor led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, and other leaders to the scene to prevent police from removing materials meant for Saturday’s local government election in his state.

Speaking to newsmen in front of the RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Fubara condemned the incident and commended the security men for their alertness.

He went on to say that the IGP will be held accountable if law and order break down in Rivers State on Saturday.

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Reacting to the allegations, Egbetokun, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said it was shocking to see Governor Fubara storm the RSIEC office.

He said: “The Nigeria Police Force has noted with concern the recent statements made by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, in which several unfounded allegations were levelled against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

“In light of these claims, it has become necessary to set the record straight.

“The Nigeria Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the Governor and particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals.”

The IGP also made it clear to the governor that threatening to shed blood and burn down the state because of a local government election is not acceptable to the police.