Rivers Crisis: CP Disu Faces Tough Battle As He Maintains Neutrality & Proactiveness 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the residents have commended the Nigeria Police Force for exhibiting high standards so far as the crisis worsens across the state.

The commendations followed the Police takeover of the 23 Local Council Secretariats to prevent breakdown of law and order over the power tussle between the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Two victims – Police Inspector David Mgbada, and a vigilante member, Samuel Nwigwe, were confirmed dead at Eberi-Omuma in Omuma LGA, during the face-off between warring political groups over the tenure of the elected officials of the 23 Local Government areas.

There has been palpable tension after the governor announced the termination of the tenure of the 23 Council Chairmen and ordered that the Administrative Heads should take over pending the conduct of an election.

The Governor’s pronouncement, which saw youths troop to the streets to enforce the order, contradicted the law passed by the Martins Amawule-led State House of Assembly that elongated the tenures of the council chairmen by six months.

The issue was further complicated by a Court of Appeal order that status quo be maintained until the hearing of suits on the matter as the council chairmen and executives vowed to stay on for another six months in line with the tenure elongation law.

Prempting a state of anarchy in the state with resultant loss of lives and property as witnessed in the past, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Olatunji Disu, ordered reinforced security and deployed security operatives in all the 23 LGAs for the maintenance of law and order.

But the proactive steps by the Police did not go down well with some sections of the Nigerian public, who have accused the Police Command of meddling in politics.

However, concerned Rivers people and residents believe that the Police acted in good time and prevented a situation that would have made the state tumultuous.

The concerned residents have appealed to the warring factions to resolve their differences and leave security operatives out of it.

“We are not going to be quiet and watch an ugly history repeat itself. We have gone through this route in 2013 and we saw how badly it affected the state. Politicians should learn to resolve their issues without recourse to violence. They cannot continue to arm thugs and cultists to threaten the peace in the state and then turn around to blame the Police for doing their job,” said an Ogoni community leader, Saviour Nebari.

Also the National Coordinator, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro Junior, said he was very proud of the performance of the Police led by CP Disu, adding that they have remained professional since the beginning of the crisis.

“I must commend the Police under CP Olatunji Disu for being very professional in handling the crisis in Rivers State.”

“I am from Emohua Local Government and resident in Rivers State. Do not forget that the primary responsibility of the Police is to protect life and property. They also have a duty to detect crime before it happens.”

“If not for the proactiveness of the CP, there would have been so much bloodshed in Rivers State. We also understand that some of the political gladiators have recruited cultists and all sorts of violent elements to unleash mayhem on their rivals but the CP and his men were able to rise to the occasion to prevent breakdown of law and order.”

“The Police have been very apolitical and neutral in this issue. There is calm across Rivers State today because the Police took over the 23 LGAs to ensure peace and stability.”

“Some people are asking why the Police would take over the LGAs but I support them because if they were not proactive and violence broke out with deaths recorded in high numbers, people would still condemn the Police for not acting. So, I commend them. They have done very well and I urge them to keep doing so.”

“I want to use this opportunity to plead with the political gladiators to conduct their activities within the confines of the law. They should stop recruiting cultists and violent elements to disrupt the peace and stability of the state.”

“If you are in Rivers State between Tuesday and Wednesday, you don’t need anyone to tell you all manner of characters that have come out from various nooks and crannies who are being sponsored by the politicians. The politicians should allow peace to reign in the state for the good of all.”

Another resident, Prince Udemkwe, said the fact that the warring factions were accusing the police of taking sides was a pointer that the service had stayed neutral and refused to do their bidding.

“It is very clear that each side wants the police to support them but they are not having their way. That is why both sides have been accusing the police of taking sides. For us, the ordinary residents in Rivers State, we are glad that the police have stayed proactive.

“If the police were not proactive in preventing some of the actions of these politicians, I won’t be able to go about my legitimate business and that will further make life difficult in this already hard economy.

“So, I am begging the police to continue to be neutral and not to allow any of the sides to influence them. If they succeed in having their way, violence will erupt in this state and it will affect those of us who make daily income,” he said.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, dismissed allegations of bias against the Police.

She insisted that the Police acted in public interest and in good faith, noting that it was the duty of the Command to prempt and prevent any act of violence.