By Livingstone Platform
Great people, it is important that we understand the dynamics of these killings in Rivers state particularly the Rivers West District.
There can be no genuine political gain borne out of human blood. Very importantly, the killings are not only senseless, barbaric, unwarranted, criminal and condemnable, they are mostly unfortunate.
First of all I have been battling with the justification thereof, giving that it has been ongoing for years now.
It therefore follows that the issue of territorial and pecuniary control is not far fetched among them. This is a heavy oil and gas area. So much money trades among traditional rulers and gang leaders. There is both the elitist and youth leadership tussle. There is so much royalty exchanging hands with the multinationals along with the power breakers who have recruited footsoldiers and armour bearers to overpower their rivals.
These groups have evolved into and coopted cult groups and others alike. It is now a blood money affair. People have been so emboldened that the rich mans wealth has truly become his strong city. Life matters nothing anymore. Certain known figures have been fingered. Lives have been destroyed in droves. Properties destroyed and Communities have been sacked.
Now take it further, you can not also divorce the political dimension of this conflict. A certain character called Amaechi sometimes ago boasted on the state of insecurity in Rives state. He adjudged that it is worse than boko haram in the north. According to him, while Boko haram is killing, they are not beheading but in Rivers state, the case is different. May I state that when this boast was made, there were scarce records of beheading in the state. The rest is now prophecy.
Thus, the current dimension is aimed at portraying the current state government as WEAK. Meanwhile, it goes beyond who is in power today even though that is the ostensible target of some shenanigans. It has already started as they are now marketing the situation in extreme delight to push for a state of emergency to buttress their point. It is even worst that the security agencies appear not to be profiling and taking necessary actions to arrest and prosecute the sponsors and executioners of this veiled mission of bloody Rivers.
No need for Lamentations. THERE IS AN AGENDA!
My take is simple. Let the State Ministries of Community Affairs and Local Government respectively, jointly drive an Emergency Security Summit along with Security Agencies on the matter in the Orashi region for a start beginning from ONELGA to AHOADA to ABUA, to the various other areas affected. Stakeholders should be properly identified. This must go beyond the partisan frays. Bring the various waring leaders to the table for a frank talk and address the issues and let all agree on a workable and binding solution. This is a process that must commence forthwith.
Secondly, I doubt that the security agencies do not have intelligence on the matter. I therefore strongly insist that effective arrests and prosecution must be made. This will show the power of Law and order taking its course.
There is no alibi or alternative to the duty of government to protect life and property no matter whose ox is gored.
At the end of the day, nobody is more Rivers than the rest of us!
To be continued…