Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has sent
a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking for the transfer of the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu.
a petition to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking for the transfer of the state
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu.
Amaechi, in the petition, which was also
addressed to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro,
gave various reasons why the commissioner of police must be transferred out of
the state immediately.
addressed to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro,
gave various reasons why the commissioner of police must be transferred out of
the state immediately.
Copies of the petition were sent to President
Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Jonathan, Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.
Amaechi said in the petition, a copy of which was
sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, that the police officer had
compromised his position and professional ethics in the discharge of his duties
in the state.
sighted by our correspondent in Abuja on Saturday, that the police officer had
compromised his position and professional ethics in the discharge of his duties
in the state.
In the petition, which was dated July 9, 2013,
Amaechi recalled all the alleged atrocities committed by Mbu since he was
posted to the state in February.
Amaechi recalled all the alleged atrocities committed by Mbu since he was
posted to the state in February.
He said one of such was the attempt by five
lawmakers out of 32 to impeach the speaker of the State House of Assembly on
Tuesday.
lawmakers out of 32 to impeach the speaker of the State House of Assembly on
Tuesday.
The governor said that he had previously worked
with four commissioners of police before the arrival of Mbu in the state,
adding that the present CP had chosen to work against the people of the state.
with four commissioners of police before the arrival of Mbu in the state,
adding that the present CP had chosen to work against the people of the state.
Mbu, he said, had chosen not to respect legally
constituted authorities as demanded of his job as a police officer and should
therefore be sent out of the state.
constituted authorities as demanded of his job as a police officer and should
therefore be sent out of the state.
The petition said, “The actions and comments of
Mr. Mbu have shown that he is unwilling to support me to protect lives and
properties of everyone in Rivers State.
Mr. Mbu have shown that he is unwilling to support me to protect lives and
properties of everyone in Rivers State.
“He has compromised our regular Security Council
meetings leading to reluctance on the part of other members to speak up during
the meetings and therefore rendering the meetings ineffective.
meetings leading to reluctance on the part of other members to speak up during
the meetings and therefore rendering the meetings ineffective.
“Besides his disparaging comments and discussions
of security matters with scant regard for decorum, he has destabilised the
security apparatus in the state, thereby supporting the return of some of the
key actors in the cult wars that engulfed the state from 2004 up till 2007.
of security matters with scant regard for decorum, he has destabilised the
security apparatus in the state, thereby supporting the return of some of the
key actors in the cult wars that engulfed the state from 2004 up till 2007.
“Sir, it has become evident that Mr. Mbu is not
desirous of assisting us in our quest for a crime-free and peaceful Rives
State. It is also evident that he lacks the appropriate mien and disposition
required of such a highly placed officer of the law and is unable to
appropriately perform his functions as commissioner of police in Rivers State.
desirous of assisting us in our quest for a crime-free and peaceful Rives
State. It is also evident that he lacks the appropriate mien and disposition
required of such a highly placed officer of the law and is unable to
appropriately perform his functions as commissioner of police in Rivers State.
“I would therefore wish to respectfully request
for his re-deployment
for his re-deployment
from Rivers State in the interest of the people
of the state and to restore the confidence of the people of Rivers State in the
impartiality of the Nigeria Police.
of the state and to restore the confidence of the people of Rivers State in the
impartiality of the Nigeria Police.
“Regrettably, since after Mbu’s assumption as
Commissioner of Police in February 2013, the security situation in Rivers State
began to deteriorate due largely to his approach to the discharge of his
responsibility as commissioner of police.
Commissioner of Police in February 2013, the security situation in Rivers State
began to deteriorate due largely to his approach to the discharge of his
responsibility as commissioner of police.
“Shortly upon resumption of duties, Mr. Mbu began
to withdraw police security attached to principal officers of the state for
reasons that were different from those given by the Assistant Inspector General
of Police of Zone 6 during a visit to me.”
to withdraw police security attached to principal officers of the state for
reasons that were different from those given by the Assistant Inspector General
of Police of Zone 6 during a visit to me.”
Source: Punch
