Story by Fidel Njamanze
A socio-political group in Ekpeye kingdom comprising Ahoada East and West local government areas of Rivers State, Amaechi’s Teeming Supporters, ATS, has described as a show of shame, the role played by the police in the Rivers State trounce on all political outfits floated by the state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, and lending adequate security cover and support to the Grassroot Democratic Initiative, GDI, a political pressure group floated by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barr Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued on Monday by leaders of ATS; Frank Nnanurum, Barr Uche Igbegiri, Barr Chimenim Jerom, Hon Napoleon Ukalikpe and Hon (Dr) Dele Odoyi, the group raised an alarm that “the police in Rivers State, under Mbu Joseph Mbu, which should protect citizens, have turned politicians.”
The group called on the immediate redeployment Mbu from Rivers and asked that the police authorities to investigate his activities in Rivers State.
Reacting to an attack on members of the Save Rivers Movement, SRM, a political outfit of Governor Amaechi’s supporters, at a gathering in Port Harcourt on Sunday, January 12, 2014 by the police, the group urged the police authorities to allow a level playing ground for all politicians and political parties, if democracy must thrive.
It reminded the police of their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties, irrespective of the political divide and called for a complete halt to the systematic disparaging of the office of Amaechi by the police under any guise, stressing that an assault on the office of the Governor is an assault on the entire Rivers State.
The group also disclosed that on Saturday, January 11, 2014, the police in Rivers State disrupted a meeting of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Ahoada West, while the police allowed a meeting of the GDI to go on same day at the Sam Royal hotel in Ahoada town.
