Rivers State Government has noted with dismay the statement credited to Dr. Doyin Okupe, special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, where he made some reckless and patently false allegations against some Governors, including Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. This was contained in a statement signed by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
It stated that the Rivers State government has repeatedly refused to be drawn into wasteful vituperations over events in the state, preferring rather to use the instrumentality of the courts and other appropriate channels, including direct communication with the President. This it will continue to do despite the provocation of people like Okupe whose track records speak volume about his person and character.
The statement indicated that Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been handed a mandate by the people of Rivers State and is on oath to protect lives and properties; defend the integrity of the state and its people as well as protect its commonwealth. He will not renege on doing those sacred commitments regardless of the blackmail employed by those who do not wish our state well.
It stated, “we do not want to be drawn into a debate over the professionalism of CP Mbu as the constitution has clearly stated who the chief security officer of a state should be. But we nonetheless reiterate our position that the disposition of CP …Mbu is the reason security continues to be compromised in Rivers State. Sadly his sponsors, co conspirators and people like Okupe could not be bothered about the growing insecurity in Rivers State because they have no stake”.
It queried that we hope that Okupe is aware that four Thai workers were kidnapped in Buguma in Rivers state under the watch of his “professional” CP Mbu–the first time this is happening in four years. Of course we also hope Okupe watched Mbu announcing quite gleefully on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) that he ignored requests to provide security at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9th, 2013.
The statement believe that not being a Rivers resident or native, Okupe may not know that Mbu is the fifth commissioner of Police to work with Governor Amaechi in the last six years of his stewardship in Rivers State. So to that extent, all the frivolous claims by Okupe about Governor Amaechi wanting to use the CP to “harass, intimidate and punish people unjustly” are as bogus and dishonest as his claims that some imaginary people from Rivers State send him text messages to complain about the Governor.
It further stated that unfortunately this inability to separate fact from fiction is the same reason Okupe cannot appreciate the role being played by the five northern governors in the attempt to unite the country and save it from some free loaders in Abuja. Gladly President Jonathan who met with the governors holds a view diametrically opposed to the one Okupe appears to be advancing. We are certain that Governor Amaechi hasn’t told anyone, least of all, Okupe that he has an interest in 2015. He has maintained the fact that both he must be allowed to focus on his current assignment and deliver to Rivers people the promises he made to them when seeking their votes.
