Some Governor of the Northern states of Nigeria have paid a solidarity visit to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, governor of Rivers State.
The governors visited Amaechi at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday July 16, 2013.
The governor who had a close door meeting with the governor of the state for about two hours made their position known through a communiqué signed by the 4 governors.
The governors said their visit was to have a first hand information on the political situation in Rivers State, which they have seen on the televisions, heard on the radio and read on the pages of newspapers.
The governors in the release stated that they are pleased with the peaceful atmosphere in the state as people are going about their normal business as the governor is incharge of the situation but however, noted an organized protest by some youths at the International Airport Hotel.
The Chief Executive of some of the Northern States namely Mu’azu Babangida of Niger State, Dr. Sule Lamido, Jigawa State, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor of Kano State and Vice Adm. Murtala Nyako (Rtd) Governor of Adamawa State.
Niger State, Jigawa, Kano and Adamawa condemned the role of police especially in the incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly because the police, have the duty to protect lives and property of citizens of the state, according to them.
They equally commended the role of the Federal House of Representatives by been proactive on the issue and appreciated the Senate Committee’s decision in taking legislative affairs of the State House of Assembly to save the situation.
The visiting governors used the occasion to call on the Inspector General of Police to redeploy the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
The governors maintained that the Commissioner of Police Rivers State acted unprofessionally by being partisan in the current political crisis in the State.
They warned that the governors may reconsider their position by the states to fund the Nigerian Police, while stressing the need for the state police as a panacea for social justice and the protection of lives and property.
The governors said there is need for true federalism as this will propel the federating units sustain development as provided by the constitution without undue interference.
The governors commended Amaechi in the face of the current political challenge while calling on all political actors to diffuse tension and end all actions capable of causing undue advantage and overheating the polity and derailing the nascent democracy especially inflammatory statement by followers.
They urged the people not to be divided by the situation, but to work together to build one united and indivisible entity called Nigeria.###
