The Presidency has stated the reason behind the scheduled visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Rivers State.
Rivers and Benue had on new year day witnessed violence that led to the lost of lives in the two States.
Mr. Buhari had included the state in his list of violence hit areas since the year began.
But the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said he has not been informed of Mr. Buhari’s planned visit to his state.
He also told anyone who cared to listen that the All Progressive Congress in the state is dead.
However, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at the weekend said his principal’s visit to the state is to condole with the families of those affected by various killings in the state.
He stated this in an interview with Tribune Newspaper.
“If he (Wike) doesn’t understand, the rest of the country understands. We understand other Nigerians understand. Even people in Rivers state understand because, on New Year/New Year Day, a minimum of 24 people was killed in Omoku.
“So, is that no crisis? And can you count the number of people that have been beheaded in Rivers state in recent times?
“People will be killed and heads will be cut off and the assailants will go away with the heads. So, can anybody say that there is no security issue in that kind of place?
“It’s left to the governor. He’s the chief security officer. If he says there’s no security crisis in his state, good luck to him,” Adesina said.
On what will become of the trip if the governor does not welcome it, the presidential aide stated: “I’m sure he will be formally informed of the date. So, if he now says he doesn’t want the visit, it’s left to him and the federal government to decide the next step.
“But the president is visiting so that he can condole with people who lost their loved ones, 24 people minimum, were killed in Omoku.
“So, those people are the reason. Those people and the many beheaded; relations of those beheaded and their heads taken away, are the reason why the president is visiting the state.”
