Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said on Thursday that the former Police Commissioner in state, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, nearly collapsed the economy of the state.
Amaechi also described Mbu as a politician in police uniform, adding that the ex-state police commissioner deviated from his professional role of protecting lives and property and began to serve politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party.
The governor made this remark when the new state commissioner of police, Mr. Dan Bature, the outgoing police commissioner, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, and other top police officers paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
“Unlike Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, who clearly showed us that he was a registered member of PDP, in your (Ogunsakin) own case, you know that we had disagreement, but you realized your responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property as the paramount responsibility of the Nigerian Police.
“It is important you keep that peace and I wish to thank you for that peace. I am also sure Rivers people are happy about that. The way Mr. Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have been completely destroyed.
“Fortunately for us, they took him away and brought you (Ogunsakin) and you restored calm. You tried to create a platform for all parties to have access to reach you. As you go, please, go with that same spirit. The police in Rivers State, should discharge their responsibility as it concerns the protection of lives and property.
“Let me welcome the new commissioner of Police and say that if the Federal Government refuses, I will repeat what I said, when I was sworn in as the governor in 2007. I said if the Federal Government refused to provide legitimate source of livelihood for Nigerians in our state, Nigerians will provide for themselves illegitimate source of livelihood.
“That includes kidnapping, robbery, stealing by people who will hire or provide police or military uniforms. And that illegitimate source of livelihood becomes its own economy, which automatically frightens the legitimate economy,” he said.
Amaechi also advised the new commissioner of police (Bature) to ensure social justice rather than partisan politics, warning that the absence of social justice may breed resistance and breakdown of law and order in the state.
“Now in the same manner, when it comes to security, as a former student leader, I understand that immediately the police become partisan in politics and do not provide security for everybody, other parties will be compelled to provide security for themselves.
“I know this as a politician since 1987 when I joined politics. And, one thing about security is that, it is cash based. They will provide for themselves the means to which to protect themselves. The Nigeria Police is supposed to mingle and have the confidence of the Nigerian people.
“But, the moment it becomes the agent of the other party, then you are no longer the Nigerian Police. You automatically lose that title. You are coming into a situation where the right thing must be done according to social justice; the absence of it is what breeds crime and resistance.
“The only thing we ask you is social justice. If you ask any of the commissioners of police who served in Rivers State, I have never requested for favours because I don’t have the need for it. We believe in law and order. But, when you don’t keep law and order, what you are inviting and get is resistance.”
“If you keep to social justice, believe me, you will be the friend of everybody. The Rivers State Government will continue to support you once that is kept. But if it is not kept, you can ask Mbu to confirm that when we found out that he was a card carrying member of PDP, we stopped funding the police and they were not too happy. But, we will fund the Nigerian Police if you continue to maintain your responsibility,” Amaechi said.
Also, Bature promised that he would provide adequate security for the citizens of the state and also ensure socio-economic development through enduring democracy. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Amaechi BEware- How come ogunsakin is remove, Is he retired or promoted. Now he is replace with Bature- we cried for mbu to be removed for ages no one heard us! may be Ogunsakin did not do PdP bidding- Let's see how it goes- 2015 is coming
ReplyDeleteAmeachi, You better leave Mbu Alone, he will soon become IG.
ReplyDeleteSola Ade, what have Amaechi done to Mbu?. Is he (Mbu), the first IG Nigeria would ever had, that Amaechi should not use him as a yard stick? Did you not see what he Mbu, did to Rivers state? Are you not aware that he is sent to do what he did? He has being rewarded with the post of (AIG), for nearly destroying Rivers state!!!. If they like, they can make him (Mbu), Commander in Chief not even IG, but the point is that, he is a PDP man to the cure. that is my humble submission.
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