The face-off between the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has deepened, as the police boss described the governor as a tyrant and dictator. Read more
Mbu, who made the remark yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Command Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, said the attacks on him by the governor were getting out of bounds, and asked Amaechi to maintain the revered status of his office.
“The office of the governor is a revered office. It is an office that has respect. Sometimes, silence is golden, but sometimes, silence could be misconstrued for acceptance. “I have very high regard for the governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi.
But, his attack on me is going beyond bounds and there is need for me to clarify some of the issues.
First and foremost, he is talking about security council meeting. In an organized environment, where the governor knows what he is doing as the chief security officer of the state, as the number one citizen of the state, have we ever had a formal security council meeting in the state? He showed a letter from National Security Council (NSC) on who should chair the internal security meeting.
“Here is a letter from National Security Council from the president on who chairs internal security meetings.” The letter reads: “You are by this letter directed that all commissioners of police in each state will chair the security meeting and assume responsibility for all deliberations.
With this letter, Mr. President has directed that the police, SSS, Army, Air Force and others should be having a monthly security meeting to know the security situation in the state and take measures to stop crime.
“But his Excellency said we should rotate the meetings. I said this is not what the circular said. He said that is how others have been doing it. I said if others do so, it is a mistake. I cannot do it. He said we should do it internally within us as in house.
I said no because my boss has informants that will tomorrow inform the inspector general of police.”
He debunked the allegation by the governor that insecurity had increased in the state, saying that the criticisms were coming just after he refused to be cowed by the governor. “Your governor, my governor is tyrannical; he is a dictator. Insecurity has gone drastically. I have respect for him and his office. He should have respect for me and the police.”
Mbu stated that letter for the meeting always emanated from the office of the special assistant which was not the right channel and he had to challenge the governor on that, as he had the obligation to brief the inspector general of police on the outcome of their meetings.
The police commissioner said he had respect for the governor, but was surprised to get unpleasant aspersions on his personality and police from him. Mr. Mbu appealed to governor Amaechi to stop playing politics with his name, stressing that he would not be used as a rubber stamp.
“I am not a rubber stamp. I do my work and nobody can influence me. The governor should stop playing politics with my name.”
Culled from The Sun newspaper
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