An article titled Peter Says Shoot Paul Shouts Hold – Who will save the Nigerian Police, published on an online platform, The Cable and written by Mayowa Tijani on July 2,2024, caught my attention while I was receiving messages from loved ones on the occasion of my birthday.
I paused, read carefully between lines and paid particular attention to the reference made to the Nigeria Police as the mediator in the escalating tussle between Chief Nyesom Wike Vs Sir Siminalayi Fubara, reason being that I am a native of Rivers state and also reside in the state.
The author of the piece said, “In Rivers state, the police also have an uphill task in mediating in the crisis between Nyesom Wike, the beloved minister of President Bola Tinubu, and Siminalayi Fubara, the needed steward of Tinubu’s 2027 ambitions.
“As the police inhale, it has to protect the interests of the state and its sitting governor, when exhaling, the same force has to serve the interests of the federal, where its orders come from.
When Siminalayi says go, and Wike says come, the police are expected to obey the orders of the governor, who also doubles as the chief security officer of the state.
But beyond the governor, there’s one with the greater order, and that is the inspector general of police (IGP).
“So when Siminalayi says come, and the IGP, serving the forces in Abuja, says go, the police have to defy the governor and do as the IGP wishes.”
In the last paragraph, I deduced the insinuation that the Rivers state Police command on the orders of the IGP may work against the Governor of the state.
As a native and resident of the state, who has being following unfolding events, I can say that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu is a professional Police officer, who has maintained neutrality in the politics of the state, focusing on his primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.
On June 22, 2024 when the Governor of the State, His excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara inspected Eberi-Omodu road in Omuma Local Government Area under construction said, “Rivers State is peaceful. You can see that we are moving about inspecting projects, against what you see on screens of television that Police is everywhere and we don’t move anymore and that Rivers state is under police siege. We are not under Police siege.”
In a separate development, the Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) loyal to the Governor, Ichemati Ezebuwon and Secretary, Alabota Anengi Barasua on June 22, 2024, while dissociating the Association from any planned protest, pledged support for the Police on its decision to take control and protect all local government council secretariats until further directives on the matter from the Inspector General of Police.
On the same date, Allwell Ihunda,the pro-Wike Chairman of ALGON, in a press briefing supported the police take over of the Council secretariats.
These are testaments to the fact that the Rivers state Police Command under the leadership of CP Olatunji Disu, is neutral and only focused on his job of protecting lives and property.
In my opinion, the lives of over five million Rivers people should be the greatest concern of any well meaning citizen of the country.
Within four months in office, CP Disu has ensured that five notorious cult ‘Generals’ who have been on the wanted list of the command are neutralised. A case in point is the killing of dreaded cultist, identified as Peter Chukwu by the Police in the month of April, Chukwu, killed so many people in Mgbuoshimini community, Obio-Akpor
Local Government Area of the state.
Afterwards, the state Police Command headquarters was full to the brim, when members of the liberated community trooped in their numbers to appreciate the work of the Rivers state Police command.
Finally, I submit that judging from the demeanor of the state Commissioner of Police in the ongoing political crisis in the state, the CP has been neutral and may sustain that position.