Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers has said that the state government would cooperate with the Police to restore law and order and urged the force to be non partisan.
Amaechi spoke in Port Harcourt when the new Commissioner of Police deployed to the state, Tunde Ogunsakin, paid him a visit.
The governor urged the new police commissioner to work toward restoring effective policing in the state.
“We are willing to cooperate with the police to restore law and order. The only thing we need is for the police to have the courage to restore law and order.
‘’The police must do whatever it takes to restore law and order; the Rivers State Government will assist the Nigerian Police in any form that they require,” he said.
Amaechi urged Ogunsakin to be neutral when handling issues in the state. “Don’t support PDP, and don’t also support APC; just support Rivers people.
“Any order that is illegal from the Rivers State Government, please, don’t obey. What we want is a neutral police commissioner that is firm and understands that the state needs to accommodate everybody and not one that loves to be in any of the political parties.”
The governor recalled the cordial relationship his administration enjoyed with the military and the police when he assumed office in 2007.
He said that the state government bought Armoured Personnel Carriers and bullet proof vests to support the police in combating crime.
‘’We also introduced scholarship programmes, that any policeman that was shot in the course of the crisis, we would not only train his children, we would employ the wife or give out money to her to start business,” he said.
Earlier, Ogunsakin said it was necessary for the governor of a state and the commissioner of police to synergise to pursue and enhance the security of lives and properties in the state.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the Chief Security Officer of the Federation while the Inspector General of Police is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Federation.
‘’Also, in a state, the Executive Governor is the Chief Security Officer and the Commissioner of Police is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the State.
‘’ This relationship is definitely best appreciated when it is harnessed to ensure peace and tranquility in the state”, Ogunsakin said.
The commissioner said the command would partner with the communities in the state and other established institutions as well as relevant stakeholders.
“We shall on our part be objective, liberal, firm and non-partisan as I will deploy my expertise to manage the affairs of the Rivers State Police Command in the best possible professional manner.
“I will strategically marshal a formidable operational plan that will speedily arrest the trend of all forms of criminality, particularly violent crimes in the state,” he said.