The controversial tenure of Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu as head of the Rivers State Police Command, ended yesterday with his redeployment from the state. Mbu, who was among 13 commissioners of police whose redeployment was announced in a statement by the Police Service Commission (PSC), has been transferred to head the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
His redeployment came a few days after the All Progressives Congress (APC) renewed pressure on the police with a call on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to redeploy the police chief who had been severally accused of partisanship in the crisis in Rivers State.
His exit from the state, however, was received with cautious optimism by top officials of the state government as well as the state chapters of APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The campaign for Mbu's redeployment also shifted to the National Assembly, especially in the wake of serial security breaches in the state during last year's clash between factions of PDP lawmakers in the state House of Assembly that led to a free-for-all among the legislators and the season of rallies triggered by the political crisis in the state.
It was in a bid to get further insight into the handling of the crisis in the state by the police under Mbu's watch that the senate on Wednesday summoned Abubakar to appear before it next week to defend the allegations against the law enforcement agency.
The relationship between Mbu and the state Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, had broken down irretrievably such that the duo frequently engaged in recriminations over the security situation in the state.
However, a statement by the PSC, signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Ferdinand Ekpe, said Mbu would be replaced in Rivers State by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Mr. Johnson Ogunsakin.
Mbu, on his part, will fill the vacuum created in the FCT Police Command by Mr. Femi Ogunbayode, who is currently undergoing a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos.
Other commissioners of police affected by the shake-up are Ambrose Aisabo, who was transferred from the Port Authority Police (PAP), to Kwara State Command; Felix Uyanya, Commandant, Police College, Kano, moves to Ekiti State; Abdulmajid Ali from Border Patrol to Imo State; Benjamin Onwuka, Deputy Commandant, Staff College, Jos, was sent to head the Kebbi State Police Command; while Ibrahim Maishanu was redeployed from Force Headquarters to Osun State.
Also, Adamu Ibrahim, Deputy Force Secretary, has been moved to Abia State; Adenrele Shinaba, from Force Headquarters to Kano State; Umaru Shehu was redeployed from Nasarawa State to Kaduna State; A. J. Abakasanga from Force Headquarters to Adamawa State; Kalafite Adeyemi from Force Headquarters to Taraba State; and Ibrahim Idris also from Force Headquarters to Nasarawa State.
The statement quoted PSC Chairman, Mr. Mike Okiro, as admonishing the redeployed officers to give their best to their various commands, so as to guarantee the security of lives and property.
However, the redeployment of Mbu was greeted with cautious optimism in Rivers State by officials of the state government and political parties.
While they said it was a routine police exercise, they added that it was too early to celebrate, as they needed time to study Mbu’s replacement.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said: “We believe it is a routine police exercise. We also believe that the police command will have its reasons.”
She added that it was too early to predict the impact of the change on the political situation in the state.
“It is too early to make any projections. The important thing is for us to watch and see,” she said.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, also expressed the same sentiment, saying: “There is nothing to jubilate about. It (the redeployment) is a routine police exercise as far as we are concerned.”
“What we have always asked for is for the police to be professional in the discharge of their duties; the same thing for the armed forces,” he said.
The state chapter of APC however described Mbu’s exit as a thing of joy to the people of the state.
Its interim Publicity Secretary, Chief Andy Nweye, said: “As far as we (APC) are concerned, it is a normal police exercise but it is good for Rivers people. Every Rivers man or woman should be happy that Mbu has left the state.”
He however said the party was not in a hurry to celebrate as Mbu had created the wrong image for the police in the state.
“The impression Mbu left here is enough for Rivers people to be sceptical about the police. Let us see how the new person will handle issues in the state before we celebrate,” he said.
The media aide to the chairman of the state chapter of PDP, Mr. Jerry Needam, however, declined to comment on the issue.
Needam said: “I have not been able to verify Mbu’s redeployment. When I do, I will be able to talk about it.”
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