The political crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly may claim two security operatives attached to the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
Amaechi’s Aide de camp (ADC) Debewari Seimeikumo, and the Chief Security Officer, Tony Iwelu were caught on tape assaulting two legislators during Tuesday’s free for all fight in the Assembly.
Debawari is an Assistant Supritendent of Police (ASP). Iwelu is an operative of the Department of State Security (DSS). Both men have been Amaechi’s security aides since 1999.
Top police and DSS officials said that Debawari and Iwelu may be sanctioned for “professional misconduct”.
Both officers had reportedly accompanied Amaechi into the Assembly chambers ostensibly to help douse the crisis there.
Apparently caught in the web of the free for all fight the ADC and CSO were caught on tape holding down member representing Omuma constituency, Kelechi Nwogu, whilst Lloyd Chidi hit the former’s head with the mace.
Done with Nwogu, the ADC and CSO, in the video clip, pounced on another member believed to be anti-Amaechi. The ADC dealt several blows on the hapless law maker.
Top police and DSS sources said that it was professionally wrong for both officers to have allowed their principal (Amaechi) into the Assembly.
Said the police source: “I hear there is video evidence linking Governor Amaechi’s ADC to the assault of a law maker. If this is true, the officer can be sanctioned for professional misconduct because he failed to draw a line between his professional duty as an officer of the law and his principal, the governor.”
Added the officer, “what if something untoward had happened to their principal, the governor? Who would have taken responsibility? Governor Amaechi is a principal officer of the state whose security must not be compromised at any given time.”
The officer however added that Debawari may go unpunished if he is able to prove that his actions were aimed at protecting his principal from a clear and present danger.
A DSS operative said the CSO and ADC should have drawn lessons from recent events in Egypt where the military and police refused to be dragged into the pro and anti-Morsi demonstrations.
“Again, the actions of the officers clearly showed that they don’t understand the Principle of Separation of Powers. Imagine the president storming the National Assembly on the excuse that there was the likelihood of breakdown of law and order.
“Amaechi’s excuse falls flat in the face of logic. Does that mean that his ADC and CSO can storm the Chief Judge’s office on the pretext of preserving law and order? Amaechi and his lieutenants clearly had no business stepping foot in the hallowed chambers of the Assembly,” he submitted.
However, a legislator close to the Amaechi camp said there was nothing wrong with the governor visiting any part of the state, particularly with the prevailing security concerns.
He denied claims that the governor’s security aides physically assaulted anybody in the Assembly, let alone law makers.
“I was there while it lasted. It was the people now crying wolf who brought in hoodlums to attack us when it was clear they wouldn’t be able to achieve their objective. There is no truth in the claims,” he stressed.
