SENATORS and House of Representatives members from Rivers State, kicked, yesterday, against Monday�s call for emergency rule in the state by some Niger Delta elders.
They dismissed such calls as parochial, self-centred, and politically-motivated and said the main challenge was for the armed forces to flush out criminals making life difficult for residents.
The state government in its second reaction in as many days to the Niger Delta elders� position said it was pushed to the wall by the criminality and unrepentant- actions of some youths to invite soldiers to restore sanity to the state.
Meanwhile, residents have been advised not to make or receive calls while passing through the numerous barricades mounted by soldiers deployed on the streets of Port Harcourt to check last week�s violence.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Rivers State Federal legislators said: �The presence of the military might cause some inconveniences in the state but it is important that more effort be put in to bring about stability as continued instability in the state will definitely affect the stability of our nation.
�This mayhem, which has taken an ugly dimension in the state is unprecedented and should not be allowed to continue. As a nation, no one can bring us peace but ourselves. It is in this view we strongly solicit that the Armed Forces in the state be encouraged to take this battle head on and bring to book everyone involved.
�They should show more commitment and fish out the perpetrators as the common goal of every Rivers man is to have peace now,� the caucus said.
The Rivers lawmakers in rejecting the call for emergency rule remarked that the problem of youth militancy was not created by the present administration in the state. They, therefore, urged the people of the state to support Governor Celestine Omehia, in his search for a solution.
The Rivers State caucus warned against viewing the problem as part of the legitimate agitation by the Niger Delta people, adding: �The government and the good people of Rivers are not part of this ugly carnage. It is not a fight by the militants who claim to be fighting for either resource control or the emancipation of the of the Niger Delta people.
�It is a struggle for supremacy of cult groups trying to define their territory or domain. It may also be politically motivated,� the lawmakers opined, throwing their support behind President Umaru Yar�Adua�s effort �to eliminate youth hooliganism, kidnapping, killing and maiming�of innocent citizens.
Govt seeks divine intervention
The state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru, at a prayer session by the Solemn Assembly for Peace at the Souls Ablaze Ministries, Port Harcourt, said government had to invite soldiers because �some of our youths are determined not to listen to counselling.�
Although he regretted the inconveniences government�s decision was �causing well-meaning people of the state,” he said: �No government would sit and watch criminals destabilise the economic and social life of its citizens without taking proactive action. We were pushed to the wall.�
He said the Omehia administration had at inception put up viable structures to counsel and rehabilitate the erring youths but they were �unappreciative, hence their decision to continue on the path of evil.�
He said �the problem has gone beyond the physical and consequently requires spiritual warfare to dismiss the hold of the devil in these youths. The time for tea- party is over, it is now time for spiritual warfare and I urge all men of God to bring the situation before the Almighty.�
Government, he said, was prepared to adopt any viable option that would return permanent peace to the state capital and environs. �Governor Omehia is doing everything a father can do to his child to make him change but unfortunately some have chosen to continue on the path of evil,� he said.
Residents warned on mobile phone use
Meanwhile, residents of Port Harcourt have been told not to make or receive calls while passing through any of the barricades mounted by soldiers on the streets of the state capital.
In a memo tagged �Security message� pasted on the notice board of Agip Oil Company Nigeria Limited in Port Harcourt, the security department of the company appealed to staff and visitors to heed the advice for their own safety
According to the memo signed by Chijioke Henry Amadi, somebody was shot dead by men of the Joint Task Force in the state recently while reaching for his handset from his pocket after it rang.
Incidentally, the person was said to be walking from one end of the barricade to the other when he got the call. Effort to get the phone was mistaken by the soldiers on red alert that he wanted to bring out a dangerous weapon so they reportedly opened fire.
The memo was silent on where in the state the incident happened. Effort to get the army PRO in the state, Major Sagir Musa, to comment on the alleged incident was futile as he did not pick his call.
Although, residents of the state capital have started decrying the attitude of some mobile policemen attached to the Joint Task Force. They said they sometimes arrest people relaxing in front of their houses from 7pm.
�On our street, Ojike, yesterday evening, mobile policemen just came minutes after 7pm to start arresting people sitting in front of their houses relaxing. They were forced to bail themselves with money that night. Government should call the mobile policemen to order. This is not what they were asked to come and do on the streets,� one resident said.
At some markets visited yesterday, traders complained of a down turn in business. They heaped curses on cultists that landed the state in its present condition just as they thanked the Federal Government for responding to save the state from the hands of the brigands.
According to a trader who simply called himself Christopher, �whoever is alive to see today should be happy. These cultists held the state hostage, they became law unto themselves.�
Sep222007