The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lai Mohammed, has accused the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan and the First lady as being behind the fresh crisis rocking Rivers State.
He made this allegation while appearing on Channels Television’ s weekly political programme, ‘Politics Today’ where he reacted to Sunday’s disruption of a rally of APC and Gorvernor Amaechi loyalists by men of Rivers State Command of the Police.
The Police action which left many injured, including a serving Senator and loyalist of the State Governor, Senator Magnus Abe, was highly condemned by the APC leader.
Mohammed said, “What we witnessed today in PH is sad and shameful…and it is a continuation of the reign of impunity in Rivers”.
He reminded of the several calls by the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the removal of the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Joseph Mbu, since he has been at the centre of many controversial crisis situations in the state.
He further argued that it was not only the APC that had asked for the removal of the Police Commissioner, mentioning both chambers of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and other political parties as having also made calls for his redeployment, which has not been heeded.
The APC Secretary declared “He is working on the instruction of the President and First Lady” stressing that his actions were contrary to the expected duties of a Police man.
Mohammed recounted many instances in which the Commissioner of Police had been confrontational with the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, including preventing the Governor’s flight from taking off on allegation that he was about to escape with State Lawmaker, Chidi Lloyd who was accused of murder. He wondered how else the CP could have gotten the confidence to carry out these activities if not by the backing of the President.
He demanded that President Jonathan calls to order the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, whom he described as having become the de facto governor of the state.
Reacting to the statement credited to the Police that they were not responsible for the shots fired at the crowd and the injuries sustained by the Senator, Mr Mohammed said: “If the police want to lie they should please lie intelligently”.
He claimed that with evidences that showed their arrival at the venue of the rally and their use of weapons on the people “The police should stop insulting our intelligence”.
