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New Rivers Police Boss Assures Of Neutrality …Amaechi Calls For Professionalism
General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, (3rd left) in a group photograph with the Exco of Nigeria Hotels Association, Rivers State chapter, during their official visit to the corporation recently. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele
Newly posted Commissioner of Police to Rivers State, Mr Dan Bature has said he will ensure a fair playing ground for all parties and improved security in the state.
He gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy call to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said, “We are aware of the developments generally in the country. We want to assure His Excellency that, we will do all that it takes to ensure the situation gets better than the way everybody enjoys security in the state. Once more, I thank you”, Bature said.
“The Nigerian Police alongside other sister agencies are responsible for internal security in Nigeria. Therefore, I am fully aware that, the tasks of ensuring adequate security and the challenges associated with it are our responsibility. My boss (Ogunsakin) has fully briefed me on his achievements in the past few months. And, these successes are unconnected with cordial relationship he had enjoyed with the Rivers State Government and the good people of Rivers State. It is a challenge that we have to sustain if we want to carry the state to the next level in terms of policing to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in Rivers State”, he further stated.
He however called for the subsisting co-operation between the Rivers State Government and the police to be sustained.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has implored Bature to display professionalism to earn the respect and support of government and people of the state.
Amaechi said while welcoming the new State Police boss, “If you keep to social justice, believe me, you will be the friend of everybody. The Rivers State Government will continue to support you, once that is kept. But, if it is not kept, you can ask Mbu to confirm that, when we found out that, he was a card carrying member of PDP, we stopped funding the police. And they were not too happy. But, we will fund the Nigerian Police if you continue to maintain your responsibility”, Amaechi said.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), who recalled the antecedents of former Police Commissioner in the state, Mbu Joseph Mbu said he was a politician in police uniform who attempted to cripple the economy of the state.
Amaechi said, the former police boss deviated from his professional role of protecting lives and properties by serving politicians of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
According to him, “Unlike Mbu Joseph Mbu, who clearly showed us that, he was a registered member of PDP. In your own case, (Ogunsakin) you know that, we had disagreement, but, you realized your responsibility to ensure the security of lives and property as the paramount responsibility of the Nigerian Police. It is important you keep that peace. And I wish to thank you for that peace. I am also sure, Rivers people are happy about that. And the way Mbu was going, Rivers economy would have collapsed completely. Fortunately for us, they took him away and brought you (Ogunskin) and you restored calm. You tried to create a platform for all parties to have access to reach you. And as you go, please, go with that same spirit. The Police in Rivers State, should discharge their responsibility as it concerns the protection of lives and property”.
“Let me welcome the new commissioner of Police and say that, if the Federal Government refuses, I will repeat what I said, when I was sworn in as Governor in 2007. I said, if the Federal Government refuses to provide legitimate source of livelihood for Nigerians in our state, Nigerians will provide for themselves illegitimate source of livelihood. And that, includes kidnapping, robbery, stealing by people who will hire or provide police or military uniforms. And that illegitimate source of livelihood becomes its own economy which automatically frightens the legitimate economy”, he said.
The State Chief Executive also advised the new commissioner of Police, Dan Bature to ensure social justice rather than partisan politics, warning that, the absence of social justice may breed resistance and breakdown of law and order in the state.
“Now in the same manner, when it comes to security, as a former student leader, I understand that, immediately, the police become partisan in politics and does not provide security for everybody, other parties will be compelled to provide security for themselves. I know this as a politician since 1987 when I joined politics. And, one thing about security is that, it is cash based. They will provide for themselves the means with which to protect themselves.
“The Nigeria Police is supposed to mingle and have the confidence of the Nigerian people. But, the moment, it becomes the agent of the other party, then, you are no longer the Nigerian Police. You automatically lose that title. You are coming into a situation where, the right thing must be done according to social justice, the absence of it, is what breeds crime and resistance. The only thing we ask you is social justice. If you ask any of the commissioners of police who had served in Rivers State, I have never requested for favours, because, I don’t have the need for it. We believe in law and order. But, when you don’t keep law and order, what you are inviting and get is resistance.”
Earlier, the out-going Police commissioner, and newly promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Tunde Ogunsakin said, he had discharged his duties as a professional police officer since he assumed office on 12th February, 2014 in Rivers State.
According to him, “the task has been onerous as a result of the various contending interests in the political, economic as well as other facets of human endeavors that we had to grapple with. In the area of crime prevention, we have been very proactive and have put in place adequate measures to ensure that crime is brought to the minimum. We embarked on intensive patrols of all nooks and crannies with a view to ensuring that criminals are not allowed to thrive in any part of the state. On crime fighting, I strategically marshaled a formidable operational plan that speedily responds to distress calls to all forms of criminalities, particularly violent crimes of armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism in the state.
Ogunsakin also commended Governor Amaechi for the co-operation rendered by his administration.
“I want to thank His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the hand of fellowship extended to me while I remained at the helm of affairs of the Rivers State Police Command. There may have been areas of conflicts but, these were eventually resolved in the interest of the security of the state”, Ogunsakin explained.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
