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| Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu |
The Police Service Commission has said it did not yield to pressure to order the redeployment of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu because the state government had initiated a suit against the commission and the commissioner.
The commission stated that it could have considered the public calls for Mbu’s transfer out of the command, but noted that while some were calling for his redeployment, many others were praising him for doing a good job in the command.
The Commissioner in charge of media, PSC, Ms. Comfort Obi, who said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday, described as frightening, the way the CP’s office was being politicised.
Obi explained that a CP was not expected to be an errand boy to a state governor or do the governor’s bidding, stressing that every police officer was expected to be professional when carrying out his duties.
“The Police Service Commission cannot remove or redeploy Mbu from Rivers State because the state government has gone to court and joined the commission and the CP, so we have to wait for the outcome of the case.
“For now, our hands are tied. We could have considered the calls for the CP’s removal but while many are calling for his redeployment, others are commending him,” she stated.
Asked if the PSC is comfortable with the controversy attracted by Mbu, Obi said the PSC was not happy that the CP office was being politicised, describing the situation as unfortunate.
According to her, the commission can only take a decision on Mbu after the legal suit might have been resolved by the court, adding that the CP would continue to function in Rivers State for now.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, said the removal of the state police commissioner will definitely reduce police antagonism against the state government and the people of the state.
Okocha told Saturday PUNCH that no commissioner of police could be as unprofessional as Mbu, describing him as a defacto chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
He said the state police boss was more of a propagandist than a law enforcement chief, adding should Mbu be redeployed, the antics of some anti-Rivers politicians would be tamed.
“No commissioner of police except Mbu can be as unprofessional. Mbu is the de facto chairman of the PDP in Rivers State and more of a propagandist than a law enforcement chief,” he said.
Also a top official of the state government said though government would welcome the redeployment of the state police commissioner, his (Mbu) removal would not represent a total solution to the crisis rocking the state.
The official, who prefers anonymity, explained that it was necessary to call to order some politicians who were bent on fomenting trouble and worsening the crisis in the state.
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