…They want to declare emergency rule in Rivers –Speaker

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, has alleged plot to declare a state of emergency in the state. In a statement he released last night, in Port Harcourt, he said that police invasion of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area secretariat yesterday was a prelude to the plan to impose emergency rule in the state.

He also alleged that Abuja-based politicians in the state are planning to stage a massive protest that could lead to a breakdown of law and order and therefore prompt the Federal Government to declare emergency rule and remove Governor Chibuike Amaechi. The Speaker asked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to withdraw the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu and investigate his alleged “abuse of power.”

The statement reads: “Dear Citizens of Rivers State and Nigeria, on the 30th of April 2013 we did warn of a continuous planned gradual collapse of the security apparatus and dismantling of democratic structures of the state with the intention of preparing for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

“Today the 3rd of May, 2013, without any security breach or semblance of same, the first stage of the preparation was commenced with the invasion and subsequent sealing-off and besieging of the Obio/Akpor Local Government council secretariat and the clamp down on officers of the council at exactly 2 pm by the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, through the instrumentality of the Divisional Police Officer, Rumuokoro Police Divisional Headquarters, while the workers were going about their lawful duties, in total breach of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) and the Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria.

“As at press time, the premises of the council was barricaded by heavily armed and ferocious looking policemen, the workers ordered out of premises and the Chairman and members of Caretaker Committee were locked in, having refused to vacate the premises without any valid instrument of law. “We strongly condemn in strong terms this action by the Commissioner of Police and say that we are living in uncertain times and can no longer be sure of the safety of lives and property in Rivers State.

“Consequently, we call on the Inspector General of Police to cause an investigation to be carried out on this brazen abuse of power by the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mr. Mbu J. Mbu and redeploy him out of Rivers State, before he plunges this peaceful state into a state of anarchy”.