Rivers Traditional Rulers Council Chairman, HRM King Jaja of Opobo, Dandison Douglas Jaja, Jeki V. while during a press conference at their Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
Daniel Efe/Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers has raised alarm that Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has unilaterally set up a Joint Technical TaskForce in the State to ensure unhindered movement of Agricultural products into the state with human cargoes whose Covid-19 status is unknown.
The Traditional Rulers said the action of the IGP has illegally voided the Presidential order by President Muhammadu Buhari that has restricted inter-state travels to curb the spread Coronavirus from one state to another.
The Traditional Rulers made their concerns known through its Chairman, HRM King Jaja of Opobo, Dandison Douglas Jaja, Jeki V. while during a press conference at their Secretariat in Port Harcourt.
They argued that the unhindered movements of Agricultural products at the instance of Federal Ministry of Agriculture into the state which will also carry People whose Health status are unknown.
The Traditional Rulers said the action of IGP is to jeopardized Rivers State Governor’s fight to check the spread of Coronavirus in the state because with unhindered movements of livestock coupled with human cargoes whose health status are uncertain and questionable.
The Traditional Rulers queried where in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the IGP derived such powers to override the powers of Governors like Nyesom Wike as Chief Security Officer with full responsibility to protect lives and property of the people and in their states.
“We are informed that in spite of Presidential Order restricting interstate movement of trucks and other vehicles other than those essential services, the IGP has unilaterally lifted the ban and proceeded to set up Technical Taskforce on the movement of Agricultural products to provide free unhindered movements of food without passengers.
They queried: “why should the Joint Technical Taskforce begin with Rivers State and to the exclusion of Government of Rivers State while the Presidential ban in order to check Covid-19 pandemic is in force. How much Agricultural activities requiring large scale input, including livestock are located in Rivers State?
“Why is Rivers State being singled out for pollution and annihilation by the possibility of escalation of Covid-19 pandemic? Why should the IGP set up a Taskforce without the knowledge, collaboration and participation and consultation of the Rivers State Government. Is the Technical Taskforce backed by any law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria outside the Constitution? What is the motive of the Isolation policy which we believe lacks any legal or constitutional back backing”.
The Traditional Rulers expressed fear that the action of the IGP is a threat to the people of Covid-19 pandemic as there is no guarantee that these trucks will not only carry passengers whose identities, nationalities, missions, health status and pedigree will be inimical and dangerous to the people.
They expressed fear that if the intention was to ensure the movement of food, livestocks and Agricultural equipment, the process could encourage massive influx of possible bandits, terrorists and Covid-19 infected persons to endanger the lives of the people.
Rivers State Traditional Rulers therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly intervene because the present policy, if even it is national, it is not only hasty but appears to be terminally targeted at Rivers People.