Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State yesterday cried out over recent developments in the state, saying that the state and the people were under siege.
Governor Amaechi spoke even as the Police launched a high-level investigation into the role of its officers and men in the crisis, with an invitation to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu Joseph and police officers attached to the Government House alleged to have taken sides in the fracas.
Also yesterday, the Army high command denied withdrawing troops from Government House, affirming that the troops pulled out were not a component of the security infrastructure of the Government House.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State
Receiving the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration investigating the crisis in the state yesterday, Governor Amaechi who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF lamented that the state and its functionaries were now under siege.
“Yesterday, they were shooting tear gas into Government House. When we were meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) today, the Police claimed that it was inadvertent, that they shot tear gas into Government House. So, I asked one question, supposing, it was live bullet and it hit me, they said, ‘Nooo, governor was not outside,’ but I said, I was outside, you can check”, Amaechi said.
Expressing shock at the sudden withdrawal of soldiers and Amoured Personnel Carrier, APC attached to Government House, the governor lamented that commanders of security formations in the state have in the past two months not met with him on account of political pressures.
We are under siege here — Amaechi
“We are under siege here. For two months now, we have not met with security men. Security commanders in the state don’t come to me any longer. They are either scared or they don’t deliberately want to see me. They withdrew soldiers attached to me yesterday (Wednesday) and this morning, they withdrew the APC attached to Government House”, Amaechi said.Senator Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the Senate Committee said the committee was mandated by the Senate to find a solution to the problem in the state.
“Your Excellency, yesterday, July 10, 2013, the Senate had a meeting or session where a motion was raised by Senator Magnus Abe on the situation in Rivers State. The motion was discussed. We had two hours in the closed-door session to discuss how best to sustain our stable democracy, how best we could have the legislators perform their functions without undue interference”, Senator Gaya said.
“I will also say the state was under the situation of violence, and there were disturbances in Rivers State. Therefore, this committee was mandated by the Senate to come and investigate, and also invite other members, including stakeholders. After this courtesy visit, we have to discuss with you (Amaechi) to know what happened from your side. We also need to talk with the Assembly members on both sides, including the Commissioner of Police, the DSS and the JTF. We have already asked the Commissioner of Police to meet us this evening and DSS,” Senator Gaya said.
IGP inaugurates probe panel, invites Rivers CP
Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has inaugurated a high powered investigation panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge Operations, DIG Philemon Leha to move to Port Harcourt.While inaugurating the panel, Abubakar assured that the Police will not spare anyone found to have fallen foul of the law during the fracas, irrespective of placement and status. Already, Vanguard was told that the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mbu and some police officers attached to Governor Rotimi Amaechi have been invited by the panel to answer questions regarding the roles they played in the melee.
The high powered panel is to “scrupulously investigate all the circumstances surrounding the on-going impasse in the State particularly, as it relates to the actions and omissions of Police personnel that were physically on ground during the unfortunate fracas that occurred at the hallowed Chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly”.
A statement signed by CSP Frank Mba, Force spokesman on the development said: “The Police High Command uses this medium and opportunity to remind the citizens of the state, irrespective of their ideological leaning, of the need to play by the rules. While the Force continues to do everything within its constitutional powers and means to provide a safe, impartial and conducive atmosphere for legitimate social, political and economic activities to thrive in the State, the IG warned that the Police will not tolerate any form of lawlessness or acts amounting to threats to public safety and public order.”
It continued: “The IGP strongly advises citizens to seek civilized and decent means of resolving their differences, devoid of all forms of violence and confrontation.”
“He reminds the good people of Rivers State that the peace of the state is paramount to the well being and development of the state and that the Police Force needs the maximum co-operation and understanding of the people to optimally discharge its statutory responsibilities”.
Reiterating that “the success of our democracy depends on our collective efforts and contributions”, the IG noted that “we must as a people; manage our differences to the advantage of our growing democracy for the good of all.”
The IG then reassured the good people of Rivers State and the general public of “the readiness of the Force to at all times ensure the security of the State and implored the citizens not to further heat-up the polity through hateful, inflammatory and unguarded statements/actions but to consciously work towards the enthronement of peace within the State.
“Meanwhile, citizens are advised to continue to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of intimidation from any quarter”, the statement said.
Moreso, the Nigerian Army, yesterday, denied any relationship between the withdrawal of 35 soldiers deployed to Government House in Port Harcourt and the political impasse between Governor Amaechi and a faction of the PDP said to be loyal to Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Nwike.
An Army General told Vanguard that the Army personnel in question are under the command of the Joint Task Force for Niger Delta, code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield,’ adding that the JTF routinely carries out rotation of its troops which may have necessitated the recall of the soldiers.
“If that is the case, there should be replacements in the not too distant future, however, it should be noted that the military do not deploy soldiers to guard governors. No governor has troops deployed to guard him. Rather in areas where Joint Task Forces are deployed due to peculiar security challenges, soldiers are deployed to ensure peace and security for the people of that state or environment and not to protect individuals. The only exception to that rule is the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, which is being protected by the elite Brigade of Guards,” he said.
Contacted on the issue, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said he was not aware that the Army headquarters ordered the withdrawal of soldiers guarding the governor as such development was not known to the army.
House factions stick to their guns
Meanwhile the leaders of the two factions in the State House of Assembly stuck to their positions last night, with Evans Bipi, leader of the five-member faction insisting he had taken over from Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, leader of the faction of 27 members. There were no indications that either of the factions would convene a session.
Speaker Amachree said he would wait on the House of Representatives which on Wednesday voted that the National Assembly take over the legislative duties of the House of Assembly before taking further actions. Amachree who spoke through his media aide, Mr Jim Opiki said since a process had already been launched by the House of Representatives he would wait for the process to run its course before taking further action.
Majority leader of the House, Chidi Lloyd was still hospitalized on account of the fracas last Wednesday and said he was not in a position to talk yesterday.
On his part, Hon Bipi who leads four other members of the house insisted he is the Speaker of the House even as he said the House of Representatives should first look at the cause of the crisis rocking the House of Assembly before talking about taking over the functions of the assembly.
He further appealed to the House of Representatives to convene a joint session of the two chambers of the National Assembly to properly look at the root cause of the crisis rocking the state assembly with a view to resolving them. On when he would convene a sitting, he said he would get back to Vanguard when he is ready.
“I am the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. I was duly elected. During my acceptance speech I raised some fundamental issues that the House of Representatives should look into. They should look at the cause of the problem. I also called on the EFFC to investigate the House. These things should be done,” said.
In a related development, Rivers state local government legislators’ forum has passed a vote of no confidence on the state Police Commissioner, Mr Mbu Joseph, calling for his redeployment from the state. A statement signed by Lawrence Wagbara for the group further condemned the action of five lawmakers of the House on Tuesday who alleged to have impeached the speaker of the house.
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The situation in River call for concern of well meaning citizen. the situation where the Federal Government deliberately withdraws the security machinery of a sitting governor of a state because of their political differences calls for great concern.
ReplyDeleteIt further show that the Federal nature of our political system has been bastardized and we need to review our constitution totally to avoid complete distortion of all our value system and degradation of the good people of Nigeria.
Breaking News, Amaechi besiege Rivers State. Crying wolf to the world is a terrible sin, deceiving others of the true position of things. Bad governance begat evil, focus on the good governance of the state and set aside your greedy pact and the lines will fall in pleasant places for you
ReplyDeleteUntill Nigerians standing up to demand for good governance, these dishonourable idiots, cultists, selfish opportunists will keep playing with our senses while fighting for their selfish reasons. I'm sick and tired of Nigerian politicians. Shame on them all.
DeleteMay God help us in this land.
ReplyDeleteIts very unfortunate, GEJ will regret his actions. And this same opposition will carry him into captivity. Do u know the truth? His sycophants will be in the opposition by then.
ReplyDeleteThe Gov went wrong by suspending an elected LGA chairma. Every other accusations are not proving including his ambition. But two wrongs don't make a right, all the forign working including our greedy brothers working with oil and construction companies working in our land have numerous security personnel protecting their life's while an elected chief security officer of the state is left out. First of all that name 'chief security officer' should not be ascribe to Governors when they have no power over the security of the state. Now if official in abuja is not responsible for the crises then why have they not called the security personnel to order. Or is security personnel met to protect few individuals while others are expose to dangers.
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