APC Calls On IG To Transfer Rivers CP To Borno, Yobe… Flays Presidency’s Silence On Alleged Shooting Of Senator

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reinforced the call by Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka that President Goodluck Jonathan should consider sending controversial Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu to Borno or Yobe State to help in the fight against Boko Haram.

“We totally agree with Prof. Soyinka’s recommendation that CP Joseph Mbu should be sent to where his skills are needed most since his use of “minimum force” could send a serving Senator to a London hospital”, the party said in a statement by its interim chairman in the state, Dr. Davies Ikanya, on Friday.

The party also frowned at what it described as the “graveyard silence” by the presidency over Sunday’s incident in which police officers, allegedly acting on the police commissioner’s orders, disrupted a peaceful rally by the Save Rivers Movement and purportedly shot and injured the senator representing Rivers South East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Magnus Abe.

Mr. Abe is now recuperating in a London hospital after he was allegedly shot with rubber bullets at close range by the police.

The APC said the presidency’s silence was criminal and should be condemned. It also hailed the decision of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate the incident. However, the party warned that the investigation must not be a charade intended to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

“All relevant individuals, including Senator Abe and Sir Tony Okocha, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi – both of whom were shot during the disrupted rally – should be interviewed by the IGP’s investigating team”, the party said.

It also said that the inquiry should touch on the “unholy marriage” between the police in Rivers State since the arrival of Mr. Mbu and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to ascertain if Mr. Mbu was a member of the PDP or not.

“Anything short of this is unacceptable,” APC said.

The party advised the panel constituted by the IG of Police to look into Sunday’s incidence to disregard any document from one Jerry Needam, the media aide to the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chairman – Felix Obuah – saying he was in the habit of peddling rumours and falsehood.

It also appealed to Mr. Abubakar not to allow Mr. Mbu and his collaborators rubbish his (IG’s) hard-earned reputation as an exemplary police officer.

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