As political crisis rocking the River State took
another dimension on Sunday where Senator Magnus Abe, one of the
strongest allies of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who represents Rivers
South-east senatorial district, was shot by some policemen at a rally
held in Obior-Akpor local government area of the state and two others
were feared dead, a human rights group, the Centre for Social Justice
and Equity of Nigeria (CESJEN) has warned President Goodluck Jonathan
and the Nigeria Police not to drag Nigeria into the era of late despot
ruler, General Sanni Abacha where the lives of the opposition to his
government were cut short at will.
The group also called on the people of the country including elders and progressive minded fellow country men to ensure the stoppage of ongoing impunity in River State as a way to stop it from extending to other state of the federation as the country moving towards election year of handing over from Civilian to Civilian administration in 2015.
It was alleged in the media that the armed policemen on the order of the River State Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu dispersed a planned rally by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) where Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Mr. Tony Okocha, and several other loyalists and sympathizers of the governor were to attend.
Reacting in a Statement issued and signed on the Sunday Rivers State political saga, CESJEN's Director of Media and Publicity,Comrade Mubarak Abiola Adegoke, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Ibadan,the Oyo State capital yesterday, the group regretted that the policemen which was established by statutory law to protect the lives and property of the Nigeria citizens was involved in such an impunity act because of political interest of a citizen.
Comrade Adegoke who condemned the police action in the State on the issue, called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Abubarkar to transfer the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu from the State before the recent hard earned name of the Police is dragged into the mud before the local and international community.
He described the Police brutality on unarmed Save Rivers Movement members as disheartening, wicked, evil, barbaric, anti-people, ungodly and satanic, stressing that the dastardly act should not go on investigated by the international community,praying to God to save the lives of injured people and may Almighty God give fortitude to the family of those who lost their innocent lives during the incident.
He further stressed that the State Commissioner of Police has shown the world that he is de facto governor of River State in support of President Jonathan's wife, Dame Patience Jonathan,adding that Mbu conjunction with presidency are practicing their plans for the people of the country before and during the 2015 general election as way to ensure that President Jonathan perpetuates himself in power, insisting that Joseph Mbu must be removed from office without further delay.
His words: "We want to use this medium to call on the authority concerned particularly, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Inspector General of Police(IGP) Muhammed Abubarkar to order a full scale of investigation into the matter so as not to endanger our democracy. Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu has goofed for ordering his men to shoot on sight at the people holding a peaceful rally in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and this act was impunity of the highest order and it was replicate of late General Sanni Abacha's action during his reign as military head of State.
"By now, police should have conducted themselves in a civil manner on any issue,especially holding of peaceful rally as being spelt out by the laws of the land. The Public Order Act under which police permit was required for public rallies have been repealed by the courts and thereby making it imperative for the police to protect the lives and property of the citizens during the peaceful rally but it was amazing that the reverse was the case with Save River Movement members. May God saves us in this nation"
Source: Sahara Reporters
The group also called on the people of the country including elders and progressive minded fellow country men to ensure the stoppage of ongoing impunity in River State as a way to stop it from extending to other state of the federation as the country moving towards election year of handing over from Civilian to Civilian administration in 2015.
It was alleged in the media that the armed policemen on the order of the River State Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu dispersed a planned rally by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) where Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Mr. Tony Okocha, and several other loyalists and sympathizers of the governor were to attend.
Reacting in a Statement issued and signed on the Sunday Rivers State political saga, CESJEN's Director of Media and Publicity,Comrade Mubarak Abiola Adegoke, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Ibadan,the Oyo State capital yesterday, the group regretted that the policemen which was established by statutory law to protect the lives and property of the Nigeria citizens was involved in such an impunity act because of political interest of a citizen.
Comrade Adegoke who condemned the police action in the State on the issue, called on the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammed Abubarkar to transfer the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu from the State before the recent hard earned name of the Police is dragged into the mud before the local and international community.
He described the Police brutality on unarmed Save Rivers Movement members as disheartening, wicked, evil, barbaric, anti-people, ungodly and satanic, stressing that the dastardly act should not go on investigated by the international community,praying to God to save the lives of injured people and may Almighty God give fortitude to the family of those who lost their innocent lives during the incident.
He further stressed that the State Commissioner of Police has shown the world that he is de facto governor of River State in support of President Jonathan's wife, Dame Patience Jonathan,adding that Mbu conjunction with presidency are practicing their plans for the people of the country before and during the 2015 general election as way to ensure that President Jonathan perpetuates himself in power, insisting that Joseph Mbu must be removed from office without further delay.
His words: "We want to use this medium to call on the authority concerned particularly, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Inspector General of Police(IGP) Muhammed Abubarkar to order a full scale of investigation into the matter so as not to endanger our democracy. Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu has goofed for ordering his men to shoot on sight at the people holding a peaceful rally in support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and this act was impunity of the highest order and it was replicate of late General Sanni Abacha's action during his reign as military head of State.
"By now, police should have conducted themselves in a civil manner on any issue,especially holding of peaceful rally as being spelt out by the laws of the land. The Public Order Act under which police permit was required for public rallies have been repealed by the courts and thereby making it imperative for the police to protect the lives and property of the citizens during the peaceful rally but it was amazing that the reverse was the case with Save River Movement members. May God saves us in this nation"
Source: Sahara Reporters
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