• Lawmaker defends First Lady's visit
RIVERS State residents have urged Governor Chibuike Amaechi to drop his planned protest against the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, warning that the action may exacerbate the political tension in the state.
Meanwhile, a member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Evans Bipi, has faulted a statement credited to the former state chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Mr. Eugene Ogu to the effect that the First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan's week-long stay in Port Harcourt was aimed at worsening the political tension in the state.
The residents said though it was sad that the commissioner allegedly did not have regard for the governor who remains the Chief Security Officer of the state, Amaechi should maintain calm for the sake of peace.
They lamented the political uproar in the state and the role of the police commissioner, alleging a calculated plan to distract the governor whom they advised to remain focus and avoid yielding to political pressures.
In an interview, one of the residents, Mr. Chukwuma Obi, said it was needless calling for the removal of Mbu as the powerful forces allegedly controlling him from Abuja may send a similar character whose actions may be worse than Mbu's.
"We urge the governor to continue to be peaceful, God is watching the whole drama and will surely intervene. The protest may result to something else.
Another resident, Mrs. Franca Akpan, urged Amaechi to channel his grievances to the appropriate authorities like the Police Service Commission or write to President Goodluck Jonathan, rather than taking the laws into his own hands.
"We feel the frustrations of the governor, it's obvious that the battles were meant to distract him, but he should remain focus and allow peace to reign. It is not good to over heat the polity for the sake of future generations," she said.
Amaechi had on Tuesday vowed to lead a protest to demand removal of Mbu, alleging that the Police Commissioner, in partnership with those he described as Abuja–based politicians, has played some roles that caused serious problems in Rivers State.
The lawmaker who represents Ogu/Bolo Constituency in the House of Assembly, said the clergy did not have the right to ask Mr. President to withdraw his wife from Rivers State, noting that Ogu does not know the reasons for the First Lady's visit. He therefore described the call as worthless and baseless.
According to Bipi, Mrs. Jonathan was in Rivers State to attend some important functions and not for any political reason.
The Guardian