The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State and the camp of Governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday continued their war of words over the political lockdown in the state.
While the state chapter of the party accused the governor of foisting on the public a false notion of insecurity in the state in a bid to discredit and oust Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, Amaechi’s camp has insisted the state has lost its peace since the Federal Government imposed Commissioner Mbu.
In a statement issued and signed by Special Adviser on Media to the State PDP Chairman, Jerry Needam, the party argued that Amaechi’s claim contradicts his continued assurances to prospective foreign investors across the state of prevailing peace for investment.
Faulting the double speak of the Amaechi administration, the party described the feigned insecurity of lives and properties in the state as lacking both in terms and principle.
“If there is any society that is completely free of crimes and undesirable elements there would be no need for security operatives and even among the kitchen cabinet of Governor Amaechi himself, there could be those whose dispositions pose apparent danger to order and security,” the party noted.
“We challenge the trumpeters of rising wave of crimes in Rivers State to pinpoint any other state where the Police is more active and whose efforts at combating crimes have paid off than the current team under Commissioner Joseph Mbu of Rivers State Police Command.”
It then advised Mbu’s critics to “look for other reasons to concoct other than the allegation of inefficiency,” stressing that the Police in the state under Mbu has “performed creditably well save in the area of involvement in partisan politics as his detractors would want him do.”
But dissenting, the state government criticised the Federal Government for imposing Mbu on Rivers people, despite resolutions of the Senate and the House of Representatives recommending his redeployment.
“The Federal Government has imposed Mbu on us (Rivers people). He is not doing what he is expected to do as a professional police officer, but taking sides in the political crisis,” Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari said on behalf of the government.
“Insecurity began in Rivers State shortly after Mbu arrived. Four Thais are still in the den of kidnappers, which Rivers State was not experiencing before Mbu’s arrival. The commissioner of police is not protecting lives and property of Rivers people.”
Semenitari revealed an ongoing peace process for President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Amaechi, saying they “are talking” and will “eventually reconcile.” She also added that Amaechi would remain a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he does not plan to move to another party.
“It is mischief to say that Governor Amaechi has vice-presidential ambition. Some people want to be mischievous and you cannot stop them,” she said.
“I wish them luck. If Governor Amaechi has intention to run as vice president, he will declare it. As at today (yesterday), Governor Amaechi has not declared intention to run. Instead, he remains focused on his transformation agenda and I urged Rivers people to keep supporting him. “