Politics
More Knocks For Mbu …As New CP Resumes Office
As the new Rivers State
Police Commissioner, Mr Johnson Ogunshakin resumed office last Wednesday, more reactions have continued to trail the removal of his predecessor, Mr Joseph Mbu.
Speaking through his Press Secretary, Jim Opiki in a telephone interview, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree, said Mbu’s redeployment to Abuja was a good omen for the State.
“We feel that the Police authorities have finally listened to the peoples’ genuine complaints about its officers. We expect that the new commissioner of police will operate within the ambits of the Nigerian Constitution”, he said.
The Speaker noted that democracy which Rivers people have craved for would be deemed to prevail if the new police commissioner acts according to the law.
“He should apply the same rules to everybody. We also hope that the new police commissioner will operate in accordance with the constitution and work in like manner with the State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi”, he stated.
Also speaking on Mbu’s redeployment, a lawmaker representing Etche Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Amadi said Mbu’s redeployment to Abuja was a welcome development.
He, however, emphasised on the need for the new police commissioner to be professional and do away with partisan politics in the interest of peace and democracy.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ogbonna Nwuke, has described the immediate past Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, as an impostor for arrogating to himself powers that he did not have.
Hon Nwuke who was reacting to reporters’ questions at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on arrival from Abuja, said the reassignment of Mbu shows that the Federal Government may have started to gradually respond to the concerns of the Nigerian people.
“We see the redeployment as a welcome development, we welcome it with conscious optimism, because of the fact that Mbu represented what can be said to be a grand manipulation of the police force or intelligence agencies by some persons who are power drunk”, he said.
The lawmaker said under the Nigerian constitution, the police commissioner does not have the power to ban rallies, stressing that Section 39,40,41 and 42 of the constitution and Section 214 give the governor such powers.
On the recent Supreme Court that knocked Sir Celestine Omehia out of the case, Hon Nwuke said there was no legal issue at the first instance that warranted the anxiety that people imputed into the matter.
“I believe in the rule of law, Governor Chibuike Amaechi believes in the rule of law and the victory is for Rivers people and democracy in the country”, Hon Nwuke declared.
To a former Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon Sunny Wokekoro, last Friday’s Supreme Court judgement in favour of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has opened a new avenue for the governor to settle down and complete ongoing projects initiated by his administration.
According to him, it was also a clarion call for the governor’s detractors to sheathe their swords, embrace peace and allow him to continue to do his job as governor of the state.
“We hope that those who had over-stretched their luck must have learnt their lessons and allow sleeping dog lie”, he stated.
While calling on Rivers people who are still sitting on the fence to embrace the APC, Wokekoro said it was also incumbent on them to continue to support and pray for Governor Amaechi to accomplish all that his administration had started.
The APC steering Committee Chairman in PHALGA also applauded the redeployment of former Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, stressing that the former CP through his activities desecrated the police profession.
While noting that the former Police Commissioner was more or less a politician, he said Mbu’s actions and inactions rubbed off negatively on the image of the police, and advised his successor to learn from the former CP’s mistakes.
Felix Okogbule & Donatus Ebi
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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