As the nation wide hunger protests gather momentum, officers from the Okporo division of the Rivers state Police command were reported distributing flyers to pedestrians and motorists.
It was gathered that the officers shared the flyers with the write-up,”Say No To Violence Protest, Support The Police”, in front of their station along Okporo road in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Our correspondent who went round town reported that people were seen in small groups discussing the protest in hushed tone.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that there is credible information that some mercenaries and thugs have been hired from outside, in the guise of protest, to destroy valuable infrastructure assets in the state.
The governor maintained that the Rivers residents have already resolved not to participate in the planned 10 days of nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1.
Fubara made the revelation when he addressed representatives of Civil Society Organisations, stakeholders of National Association of Nigerian Students, Rivers State ethnic and youth groups, and Port Harcourt Motor Spare Parts Dealers Union, Ikoku Branch, among others at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, and sent to newsmen.
The governor insisted that several public and clandestine activities of the self-styled detractors over the last months are clear indications that Rivers State does have unrepentant enemies who will do everything possible within their means to destabilize the State.
Governor Fubara said, “You are already aware of the political situation of our State where people are looking for every avenue to destabilise this state. We don’t need to give them that opportunity to carry out that act.
“And that is the reason why I, representing the government, and the service commanders, have always been in touch with you all, pleading that we should shelve this protest.
“And even if you have to do it, we should do it in a way and manner that it will not get out of control.
“I have information that you don’t have. I am aware of the people who are being hired to come into this state to cause mayhem. If anything happens here, we are going to be the greatest losers.
“Our property will be destroyed. Our economy will be destroyed. And when they finish, they will go back to their states.”
He said further, “Look at what has happened in Kenya. It will take them another 20 years to rebuild those things that are being destroyed.
“In Rivers State, we are not that financially buoyant to now start retrogressing where we have already passed. Instead of maintaining and increasing what we have, we will be thinking of rebuilding, if destroyed. Let us not allow it to happen.”
Fubara acknowledged the prevailing economic hardship that Nigerians are facing but quickly added that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, is taking believable actions that are geared towards addressing the current hardship and securing a better future for the people.
He urged the activists to look at all the angles to the reasons proffered by the organisers of the planned protest so that they do not just embrace it to please persons who are aggrieved because the system does not favour them.
