Police ‘withdraw Amaechi’s Escort’

After a brief lull, the row between Governor Rotimi
Amaechi and state police chief Mbu Joseph Mbu
resurface yesterday.
Amaechi’s escort commander has been withdrawn
by the police, Commissioner for Information Ibim
Semenitari claimed last night.
Police Commissioner Mbu reportedly made a
request, which was not in the purview of the police
officer following which he was removed from his
position, Mrs. Semenitari said.
The report could not be confirmed last night as
Mbu did not pick his calls.
The police authority earlier in the week declared
Amaechi’s Aide-de-camp a deserter for failing to
report to the Inspector General of Police as
requested. But the state government said the ADC
was on medical leave.
The governor’s security is threatened, the Rivers
State government said in the statement, which
said:
“The redeployment, according to CP Mbu, was
because the Escort Commander had refused his
directive to “Furnish (the CP) with prior information
of the movement of the governor. The Escort
Commander is not in charge of the governor’s
protocol and cannot have prior knowledge of the
governor’s movement, especially in the prevailing
circumstances regarding security in the State.
“After redeploying the Escort Commander, CP Mbu
also requested the Camp Commandant of
Government House, Port Harcourt, to give him prior
briefing of the governor’s daily movement – a
request which in practice would be difficult to
comply with, unless the Camp Commandant gets
prior knowledge of the Governor’s movement.
“The Government of Rivers State is most
uncomfortable with these developments and their
implications for the security of Governor Amaechi.
This is more so, as the developments are coming
on the heels of the Rivers State Police Command’s
declaration of Governor Amaechi’s ADC (which is
receiving medical attention) as a deserter.
“This sudden interest of CP Mbu regarding the daily
movement of Governor Amaechi cannot be borne
out of love. If his intentions were noble and above
board, CP Mbu has Governor Amaechi’s telephone
number and could have reached him directly to
make the request of prior briefing of his
movements. Alternatively, he could have written
officially to the Secretary to State Government to
make the same request.
“This would be the first time, since Governor
Amaechi assumed office in 2007, that a Police
Commissioner would be requesting prior
information of his movement. This was not the
case even in the heyday of militancy in Rivers
State. As far as we know, this is an exception
rather than the rule.
“The fact that CP Mbu waited for the Governor to
travel out of Port Harcourt to issue the invitation to
policemen attached to Government House is
curious and indicative of ulterior motives. His
sudden interest in the Governor’s movement is
suggestive of a more sinister motive.
“ CP Mbu has not hidden the fact that he holds
Governor Amaechi in disdain and would stop at
nothing to either harm him or aid those planning to
harm him. After all, in May 2013, he allowed ex-
militants to barricade the gate into the Government
House after parading major streets of Port
Harcourt.
“He has even acknowledged before the media that
he found nothing wrong in fraternizing with
militants.
“We suspect that the request for daily prior briefing
on the Governor’s movement may be to furnish
strange persons with necessary details of his
movement, thereby placing him in harms’ way.
“ At different times, CP Mbu has compromised
Governor Amaechi’s security and safety, and even
personally led an attack on Government House, Port
Harcourt on July 10, 2013. As Commissioner of
Police, CP Mbu, refuses to brief the Governor, who
is the Chief Security Officer of the state, on the
state of security in Rivers State.
“We, therefore, wish to alert Nigerians and the rest
of the world that CP Mbu should be held
responsible should anything evil happen to the
Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Amaechi, any principal officer or top government
functionary in Rivers State. We believe that his
current actions are sufficient warning to us “as a
tree that cries out cannot kill anyone on its path”.