THE Rivers State government on Thursday said it can no longer guarantee the security of its chief
executive, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, after the Nigeria Police headquarters arbitrarily posted personnel to the Governor’s Lodge in Port Harcourt without due process.
The arrival of the latest set of law enforcement personnel follows a recent posting of 4 law policemen identified as ‘intelligence officers’ to the Government House, the official seat of the government Rivers State government in the capital city.
A press release by the secretary to the Rivers State government, Mr. George Feyii, raised the alarm about the postings, saying that neither posting was done with any notification or reference to the state governor as was usually the case.
“We are aware that on issues of personal safety, an official reserves the right to pick the security personnel to whom he or she may entrust their safety,” the statement pointed out.
“This is more so in the case of a State Governor.”
The government pointed out that not only is the Rivers State government uncertain of the true identity of the policemen, officials are worried as to the true intent behind the latest postings.
“In recent times, events in Rivers State and especially around Governor Amaechi have been suggestive of deliberate nonchalance at best, and complicity at worst in the security breaches that have occurred,” the government observed in the press release.
“This trend has continued despite a passionate appeal to the highest levels of authority,” added.
The latest development follows growing tensions in the state occasioned by a fracas in the State House of Assembly last week, when 5 lawmakers claimed to have impeached the speaker of the house.
In the ensuing melee, some of the lawmakers who tried to usurp constitutional authority through illegal means were attacked by other lawmakers supporting Governor Amaechi, with the mace seized and used as a weapon on some of them.
Videos of the confrontation quickly went viral on the internet and traditional news media in Nigeria and outside of the country.
We are worried that we can no longer guarantee the safety of Governor Chibuike Amaechi and wish to reiterate our call on all relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Governor Amaechi and the peace and security of everyone in Rivers State.