NSA, Police, DSS ‘silent’ over Rivers bomb blast, stain on Tinubu govt — APP

The Popular Action Party (APP) has said that the alleged silence of the National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Department of State Services (DSS), over the deadly bomb attack by some protesters in Rivers State, were to tarnish the image of the government led by President Bola Tinubu.

The opposition party made the statement in response to the detonation of an explosive device during a protest march in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Tuesday by supporters of a gladiator in the political crisis in Rivers, resulting in the death of one person and serious injuries to others.

APP, during a press briefing by Comrade Achilike A, said the deafening silence of the security agencies who are supposed to take action against the organizers and perpetrators of the violent incident in Rivers State cast doubt on opprobrium not only on them alone, but also on the All Progressives Congress. (APC) of the Tinubu government for its insensitivity to the security of lives and properties of citizens of the state.

He said although Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the head of state security, he does not have the power to command the office of the NSA, the police and the DSS, so only President Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, can order the heads of the security agencies to bring to book those behind the dastardly act.

“As an opposition party, we are concerned about the continued silence of the NSA, IGP, CP and DSS since Tuesday when protesters suspected to be supporters of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, allegedly detonated an explosive device in Rivers State, killing one person and injuring several others.

“Normally, we would have kept quiet so as not to get involved in the affairs of what appears to be a conflict of interest between the main opposition party, the PDP, and its ruling Siamese twin, the APC, but as one of the vibrant oppositions in the country, we live up to our responsibility to hold the government and the two biggest political parties to account.

“Therefore, we dare say that the prolonged silence of these security agencies, apart from encouraging the so-called supporters of Wike to sow more trouble in Rivers, their action or rather inaction is damaging to the image of the Tinubu government because he is careless. attitude towards the security and welfare of the Nigerian people of any state of the federation.

“We therefore call on President Tinubu to uphold the letter and spirit of the oath he took to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which makes the security and well-being of the people the primary responsibility of government.

“The sooner the President directs his appointed heads of security agencies to secure the people of Rivers State and arrest the organizers and perpetrators of the horrific incident in Rivers, the better it will be for his image and perception as a leader capable of protecting their lives and minds,” APP said.