Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has described the former Police Commissioner of Rivers State, Mbu Joseph Mbu as a politician in police uniform who attempted to cripple the economy of the state.
Amaechi spoke today when the newly deployed commissioner of police, Mr. Dan S. Bature in company of the outgoing Commissioner of Police and newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunshakin and other top police officers paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Amaechi said the former police boss deviated from his professional role of protecting lives and properties by serving politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to him, “Unlike Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, who clearly showed us that he was a registered member of PDP.
In your own case, (Ogunsakin) you know that, we had disagreements, 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 pace. And I wish to thank you for ensuring peace reigned in the state. I am also sure; Rivers people are happy about that. And the way Mr. Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have collapsed completely. 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. And as you go, please, go with that same spirit.”
The out-going Police commissioner and newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Ogunsakin in his response said he had discharged his duties as a professional police officer since he assumed office on February 12th, 2014 in Rivers State.
According to him, “The task has been onerous as a result of the various contending interests in the political, economic as well as other facets of human endeavors that we had to grapple with. In the area of crime prevention, we have been very proactive and have put in place adequate measures to ensure that crime is brought to the barest minimum. We embarked on intensive patrols of all nooks and crannies in the state with a view to ensuring that criminals are not allowed to survive in any part of the state. On crime fighting, I strategically marshaled a formidable operational plan that speedily responds to distress calls against all forms of criminality, particularly violent crimes of armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism in the state.
Mr. Ogunshakin also commended Governor Amaechi for the co-operation rendered by his administration.