RIVERS CRISIS: My successor will be tougher – Mbu

The past Police Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has stated that those that called for his redeployment were not fair to him.


He also said contrary to insinuations, he was not in the state to do anybody’s bidding.

The police commissioner, who was recently posted to the Federal Capital Territory, spoke in Port Harcourt on Saturday when he joined the new state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike.

The former state police boss urged his successor to ensure that vehicles with tinted glasses were thoroughly searched, adding that occupants of such vehicles could be political assassins.

He said he was leaving the state with his head high because the state did not record any political assassination during his stay as the police commissioner.

“I did not come here with a script as alleged by few propagandists. I have discharged my duties with diligence and for the past one year, there has been no political assassination in Rivers State.

“Our sworn allegiance to the Nigeria Police Force must be upheld at all times. In the past one year, Rivers State under my command did not record any political killing and I carried out my job in the state with diligence and in consonance with professional ethics,” he said.

In his remark, Ogunsakin maintained that the ban on political rallies would continue until 90 days to the election.

The new state police commissioner, however, added that any group that wished to gather should get police clearance five days before their meeting.

Ogunsakin said his visits to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and the Minister of his Education marked the beginning of visits to stakeholders in the state.

Responding, Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party would support the new commissioner of police in protecting lives and property.

On the ban on political rallies, the minister said the PDP would go to court over the ban if it became necessary.

He said, “We will give you all the support you will require to make your job successful. There was a time when the police was used to intimidate and arrest people in this state until we went to court to seek redress before we could hold political meetings.

“I have never met Mbu in my life. The propaganda by other people that he was acting the script written to him by me was most unfortunate. You cannot influence Mbu in any way. That is why Rivers people protested the plan to redeploy him from the state.

“Let me appeal to you; the new CP, to please, ensure that lives and property in the state are well protected. Those of us who live in Abuja should not be afraid of coming home because of one crisis or the other.”