The face-off between Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State, and the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu,
deepened yesterday after the governor accused Mbu of putting up lame and
unsatisfactory argument about Thursday’s sudden redeployment of his
(governor’s) Escort Commander.
The governor, who spoke through his
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, described
Mbu’s excuse as an after-thought.
However, the police commissioner,
responding through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Agabe, a
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), insisted that the escort commander’s
redeployment was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed
Abubakar.
The CP said he is simply a
professional police officer and not a politician.
Amaechi and Mbu have been at
loggerheads since February this year when the governor asked for the CP’s
immediate redeployment, which he described as the only condition for peace in
the Niger Delta state.
He accused Mbu of taking sides in
the state’s political crisis.
On Thursday, Amaechi said that Mbu
redeployed the escort commander because he refused his (Mbu’s) directive to
furnish him with prior information on the governor’s movement.
The NGF chairman noted that the
escort commander was not in charge of his protocol and would not have prior
knowledge of his movement, especially in the prevailing circumstances regarding
security in the state.
The governor pointed out that after
redeploying the escort commander, Mbu also requested the Camp Commandant of
Government House, Port Harcourt, to give him prior briefing of his daily
movement, which he said in practice, would be difficult to comply with, unless
the camp commandant gets prior knowledge of his movement. This the CP denied.
Irked by Mbu’s defence, Amaechi,
through his information commissioner, said in Port Harcourt yesterday that the
excuse now given by Mr. Mbu was not “the reason given, when both the Escort
Commander and the Camp Commandant were invited to the Police Headquarters (in
Port Harcourt).
“This excuse was also not offered
when the governor personally called Mr. Mbu to complain about the removal of
his escort commander.
“Matters of personal security of
government functionaries and especially top officials like the governor of the
state are discussed and agreed with these officials.
“Even if for the purpose of
argument, it is indeed factual that the IGP ordered the redeployment of
Governor Amaechi’s Escort Commander, wouldn’t the courteous thing be for the
Commissioner of Police and the police high command to inform and explain this
to Governor Amaechi?
“On matters of his personal
security, a governor reserves the right to reject or accept security details,
as he may be comfortable with. The Rivers State Government, therefore, is
reluctant to accept what it considers a lame and unsatisfactory argument by the
Rivers State Police Command.”
On September 2, the Aide-de-Camp
(ADC) to the Rivers State Governor, Debeware Semeikumo, an Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP), was declared a deserter by Mbu, over the July 9
fracas in the state’s House of Assembly and also removed him (Semeikumo) as the
ADC to Amaechi.
Semenitari described the CP’s action
as another mischief, stating that the Rivers police command was aware that
Semeikumo sustained injuries and had been away for better medical treatment.
The Rivers police commissioner
maintained that the ADC to Rivers governor was declared a deserter, following
his alleged failure to honour all lawful directives to see him and the IGP
since July 10, 2013.
Mbu said: “The decision to declare
Semeikumo a deserter followed Section 398 (1) of the Police Act and the
Regulation Cap 359 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
“The whereabouts of Semeikumo remain
unknown to the police. IGP Abubakar has approved his declaration as a
deserter.”
Tags
Politics
Claim to be a professional and not a politician;Y is it that is only Gov Ameachi that is having dis security issues amongst other state Govs.U guys re planning something evil.
ReplyDeleteIGP is in charge,it is an order 4rm GEJ d evil pretender,he deserve to be inpeached
ReplyDeleteRaphael,the GEJ. Is ur president and also ur senior,u dont have respect atall,i wonder who train u.
DeleteAmaechi is a traitor,betrayer,self centre he is in d same boat wt okorocha n dey wil all sink 2geda
ReplyDeleteWhy is Rivers State crying foul over any action taken by the police in their normal duties/activities. Any officer can be seconded to any political office holder and withdrawn at any time if his/her services are required else where. It happens all the time and not only in Amaechi's case.
ReplyDeleteSo it was when the ADC of Amaechi was punished for absconding from official duty when ordered to appear before the IGP. Amaechi read a different meaning to it, claiming he is out of the country for medical treatment. Was he involved in an ghastly accident or brutally injured to have been flown abroad for treatment. Afterall, he was the one who aggressively assaulted people. How come he is so seriously injured or ill and has been in hospital all these months.
Lets see things sincerely and comment in that regard.
By d time we true wit jonathern ,CP will bee in prison. Paaaam
ReplyDeleteMost of us are getting sick and tired of ameachi, is he the only govenor in nig. He refuses to obey rules but wants his way all the time. One of his officials cried dt attempts were made to eliminate ameachi's life,d police tried 2 investigate and charge him to court, this same wild gov ran to the court to stop futher probes to this accusation. Secondly, Produce ur former AdC, another lame duck excuse. Ameachi if no one has told you, hear it now, you have lost your marbles
ReplyDeleteMr Mbu you said you are not a politician at thesame time we don't think you are a professional police officer. We advise the IGP to redepoly the CP
ReplyDeleteThe IGP can't do anything because is an oder from GEJ
ReplyDeleteGEJ wants to control the governors, his PDP and everytin for his selfsh n devilish interest.
ReplyDeleteMr presidor why not use ur energy on productive things that benefits ordinary pple such as power supply, security, roads, education including ASUU, health, job creation etc rather than involving ur self in crises all the time.
ReplyDeleteNice post which is informational too and it is very nice to read this type of post which helps us to get more info.
ReplyDeletevery informative and a compelling read, although usually I don't find politics that interesting
ReplyDelete