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Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, AIG Jonathan Johnson not to play politics with the issue of security since it involves lives and property.
Amaechi, who made the call when the AIG led a delegation of senior police officers in the zone on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, said there was need for the state police command to focus more on security in order not to return to the state’s era of insecurity (2005, 2006 and early 2007).
Amaechi said the state was beginning to have security challenges, and as such needs the cooperation of the police to address the issue.
He said: “I like to welcome you AIG. We should not play politics with security. The only responsibility enshrined in the Constitution for both the President and the State governors is that we swear on oath that we will protect lives and properties and we are beginning to have that challenge in Rivers State and I will say to you to kindly please convey to the Police Command that we are beginning to have security challenges in Rivers State.
“And we should not forget that you may play politics with every other thing but one place you don’t play politics with is the security of the lives of our people who elected us to offices and it will not be to the interest of Rivers people if we go back to the era of 2005, 2006 and early 2007.”
The AIG had earlier promised to use trained policemen from the Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) to fight kidnapping and other vices in Rivers state, just as he said that officers and men in the Rivers State Command might have made mistakes in the discharge of their constitutional duties in view of the recent events unfolding in Rivers State.
The AIG said, “So we will take note of all these mistakes and we will correct them, I am assuring you, we will correct them. If there are lapses noticed, let us know so that we can make amends. And I also want to thank you (Amaechi) that for all you have done for us and the others that you are going to do. We shall continue to appreciate because you know requests from the police will never stop coming.”
“Every human being that has served or is going to serve (the Nigeria Police Force) sometimes is susceptible to some errors here and there and when that comes to forefront it is incumbent on that very particular person to say we shall amend. I know when these issues of withdrawal of security from some staff officers of yours came, there were agitations here and there.”
He commended Governor Amaechi for showing understanding.
He said: “We have always been at the wrong side of history because of one thing or the other but you (Amaechi) show understanding in our mistakes, you show understanding in our service and that is why you’ve provided all these things. We remain grateful to you on behalf of the Inspector General of Police. We say a big thank you”, the police boss said.
“I must show gratitude because I’ve heard so much about your activities, when your government single-handedly sponsored the development and training of our ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) centre here in Rivers State.
We have it on record, your numerous activities of assistance to the Command and to the mobile police force. I can also see what I have seen on the road yesterday, the new patrol vehicles here and there, that is to show your demonstration of love for the police force
