Amaechi: Why the state police boss must go

amaechi and bozimo

Amaechi presents a gift to Chief Bozimo, Chairman NYSC Governing Board


Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

For the second time in a week, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Nigeria’s Rivers state has called on the police authorities to transfer the state commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, saying he has been busy attending political meetings rather than facing his duty of protecting citizens.

Amaechi made the fresh call as criminal activities escalated in the state, the most recent being the kidnap of three female corps members, with the abductors now demanding a ransom of N20million.

Amaechi spoke today when he received the chairman of the National Youth Service Corps Governing Board, Chief Gordon Bozimo. The latter had in his speech raised concerns on the recent kidnap of the corps members and other atrocities meted on corps members posted to the state.

Amaechi presents a gift to Chief Bozimo, Chairman NYSC Governing Board
Amaechi presents a gift to Chief Bozimo, Chairman NYSC Governing Board

“Three days ago, three of our corpers were kidnapped. I feel very worried because, if Port Harcourt is not safe, I don’t know where people will run to. So, we are imploring Your Excellency, to look at the problems critically and fashion out what we can do to nip the problem in the bud, if not, corpers may begin to avoid Rivers State the way they did to Borno, Yobe and other trouble ridden states in the North. I have the intention of discussing it with the Inspector General of Police when I get to Abuja”, Bozimo said.

Amaechi said the call for Mbu’s transfer became necessary because the commissioner has derailed from his legitimate function of protecting lives and property in the state.

“We used to have a wonderful security system and Commissioners of Police who understood their functions and knew what to do. But, when the Police in Abuja, suddenly withdrew the predecessor of this present Commissioner of Police and posted the person called Mbu Joseph Mbu, nothing has been working again. Mbu has been sitting with politicians for political reasons and the security system is down and out.

“Since he came, we have never had peace. We have held Security Council meeting two or three times. But before Mbu came, we used to hold security meetings two or three times every month. We know where our Corpers are and we know the level of security arrangement we put in place to protect them. We also send the SSS to watch over them. We have equipment that monitors what happens where. The only way they will not kidnap Corps member is to send Joseph Mbu back to where he came from and post us a Commissioner of Police that will serve the interest of this state”, Amaechi said.

RIVERS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MBU JOSEPH MBU: Amaechi says the guy is a politician
RIVERS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MBU JOSEPH MBU: Amaechi says the guy is a politician

The State Chief Executive also tasks members of the NYSC Board to unravel the issues surrounding the kidnap of the 3 Corpers to the federal government and the implications it would have on the state, pointing out that his administration will soon stop funding the police for its inability to deliver and protect the lives and property of citizens.

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“I don’t want a Commissioner of Police that will work for me; I want a Commissioner of Police that will work for the interest of the state that will work for Rivers people. So, it is not only me that you should complain to, talk to Inspector-General of Police and those who transferred the Commissioner of Police that was working in the interest of Rivers people. Port Harcourt is becoming unsafe, and more NYSC members may be kidnapped, except they remove Joseph Mbu. It will worsen when we (the state government) stop funding the Police, because we will soon stop funding them.”

Amaechi warned that Mbu’s continued stay in the state would jeopardize the conducive business climate of Port Harcourt and the fast growing economy of the State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu is a politician, because he attends political meetings with those who brought him to our state and there is no way you can stop that. The only way you can stop that is to ask the politicians in Abuja to withdraw their Commissioner of Police and allow us to secure Rivers State. My fear is that his stay in Rivers State is intended to kill the conducive business climate in Port Harcourt and the fast growing economy of our state”

Governor Amaechi emphasized that a new Commissioner of Police should be posted to the state as soon as possible to take over from Joseph Mbu who is taking laws into his hands, showing disrespect, insubordination to constituted authority, arrogance and gross misconduct to the Rivers State Government and people.

“The federal government should post a new Commissioner of Police. I have no control over the present Commissioner of Police Mbu, even though the constitution says so. He called a Press Conference, where he said, he does not report to the governor of the State, who is the Chief Security Officer of the State. So, how do I (Amaechi) protect our citizens who I swore to protect?,” Amaechi asked.

Amaechi had threatened to lead a public protest against the rising insecurity in the state since Mbu was posted to the state and draw the attention of the federal Government on the need to redeploy Mbu.

Chief Bozimo also said that the purpose of the visit to Rivers State was in confirmation of Governor Amaechi’s commitment to the promotion of the NYSC programme and to also have a firsthand knowledge of how the orientation camp looks like in the state.

“Because, our mandate is to ensure there is a paradigm shift, the way it is done in the NYSC programme, we are aware that Rivers State Government in particular has been very generous to the NYSC in the state. We are aware of the extra-allowances you pay to corpers. Infact, as I speak, there is serious refurbishment going on in the camp, and we are very much elated in that regard. The sum total is that, we are here to thank you for all the assistance you have been giving to the Board”, Chief Bozimo said.

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