•Police summon House leaders, Amaechi’s ADC, CSO
Rivers Crisis: Senate committee report leaks
Those thinking that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State which resulted in the mayhem that took place at the state House of Assembly is over are in for a surprise.
This is because the main thrust of the report which the Senate set up to investigate has been leaked. According to an insider source who pleaded anonymity, the report of the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration led by Senator Kabiru Gaya has indicted the Hon Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike and the leadership of the State PDP led by Hon Felix Obuah. This, it has been speculated, is the main target of Amaechi’s efforts to control and influence the committee when they visited Port Harcourt.
In order to be on the same page with the Senate Committee, the source said that this informed the reason why Governor Chibuike Amaechi hurriedly set up a 9-man Judicial Commission of Enquiry to be headed by Justice Biobele Georgewill to look into the July 9th and 10th crisis that rocked the House of Assembly. “The objective is to vindicate the Senate committee by indicting the minister of state and the PDP leadership in Rivers State as well as some Abuja politicians”.
Given the specific task of the commission, it can only be an unusual coincidence that the governor represented by his deputy, charged the commission to be firm, courageous and sincere. He urged them to “investigate any other matters that may come to the knowledge of the commission in the course of the investigation”.
According to the source, the committee hurriedly left Port Harcourt even without thoroughly hearing from many of the persons on the other side because they got what they wanted to do; the Amaechi bidding.
It was further revealed that the report has further played down the magnitude of violence which the State House Leader, Chidi Lloyd, visited on his colleague and friend, Hon. Michael Chindah. It has also been revealed that Governor Chibuike Amaechi who led some people and his aides including his ADC and Chief Security Officer into the hallowed Chambers of the House of Assembly to attack elected parliamentarians will also be exonerated by the report.
The thinking, according to our source, is that if the governor is exonerated, his ADC, the Police Officer and his CSO who assaulted the Honourable members of the House of Assembly of the state will be set free.
When contacted, the minister of state for education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike said he is neither worried nor surprised if that happens because the attitude of the committee while in Port Harcourt and the open romance with Amaechi’s people was embarrassing. However, he said that any such indictment is inconsequential.
No sooner had the committee rounded up its visitation to Rivers State that missiles started firing at the committee through various advertorials cataloguing allegations of misdeeds against the committee, including receiving financial inducements from Amaechi.
Meanwhile, Rivers State police command has declared the Rivers House Leader, Hon. Julius Chidi Lloyd wanted, in connection with the alleged injury he inflicted on his colleague, Hon. Michael Chinda who’s health is in a bad condition.
Similarly, Police Force Headquarters has also summoned Gov. Amaechi’s Aide de camp, ADC, and his Chief Security Officer, CSO, for interrogation in connection with their roles during the fracas in the Rivers House of Assembly.
The statement declaring the House Leader wanted was contained in a statement released by the Rivers State Police Command and signed by the commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, requesting the House Leader, Lloyd, to make himself available to the state command headquarters or the nearest police station.
Lloyd, known to be an arch loyalist of the embattled Governor Amaechi, was alleged to have smashed Hon. Michael Chinda and Hon. Martin Amaewhule with the House mace, symbol of authority in the House of Assembly, thus inflicting serious injuries on the members last Tuesday, ostensibly at the instance of the governor whose ADC assisted in beating the victims.
It will be recalled that last Tuesday witnessed eruption of violence in the Rivers State House of Assembly, following an attempt by five members of the House to impeach the Speaker, Hon. Otelemaba Daniel Amachree.
A press release from the Force Headquarters, signed by CSP Frank E. Mba, deputy force public relations officer, the police said the summon was in continuation of its investigation into the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis.
The Force said “the Aide-De-Camp, ADC, to the Rivers State governor, Ag.ASP Debeware-Semeikumo, and the Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the governor, Tony Iwelu are to report to Force CID, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for an interview in respect of their roles as seen in the video clips in circulation.”
The statement further stated “It would be recalled that in the video clips, a man carrying a mace and another in police uniform as well as other security details were seen conducting themselves in a questionable and uncomplimentary manner. The invitation therefore seeks to obtain further details that will assist proper investigation into the matter.”
Meanwhile, the IGP has reminded police personnel on various legitimate assignments, particularly those attached to VIPs to always remain mindful of their conduct and ensure that they uphold the professional ethics, traditions and best practices of the Force at all times. He further warned that any officer found acting in ways inconsistent with extant laws and regulations of the Force will be severely dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.