Gov Fubara To Nigeria Police – Stop Being Partisan And Creating Enmity

…Donates 100 vehicles to boost response to emergencies

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised partisan police officers who abandon their core professional responsibilities to pursue vested political interests to know that the enmity they fuel and create will hurt them in the near future.

The Governor stressed that it is an aberration for any police officer to think that protecting any particular individual or being one-sided in the political affairs to the detriment of the State amounts to professionalism.

Fubara, who stated these at the inauguration and handover of 100 operational vehicles acquired by his administration to the Rivers State Police Command at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, noted that police officers are engaged and trained as professionals to protect lives and property while contributing to the desired peace in the State as a patriotic duty.

He said; “I need to say this, so that you will understand. When you (Disu) came into Rivers State, and I had my encounter with you, I requested for only one thing: That I will never ask you to do what is wrong. So, do what is right. Protect the lives and property of Rivers people. Don’t be partisan.

“We have seen those people that were partisan; how they ended. And, I am saying it here, to every one of you that is an officer that is being partisan: you will see how you will end.

“So, work in such a way that when your name is mentioned in this State, or your children come to this State, you won’t be scared. This is important,” he said.

Fubara urged them to forget about the ongoing political anxiety in the State, saying that nothing will last forever and therefore charged them to conduct their operations as real professionals that have been so trained so that they can be effective in the responsibility of protecting lives and property of people in Rivers State.

He further said; “It is not to protect any individual. It is not to be one-sided in the political affairs of the State. Politics will come and go. The enmity you are creating, for those of you that are partisan, will live with you forever.

“So, I want to advise you, I have said it before, and I am saying it again: I will never ask any of you to do what is wrong. My appeal is: stand on the ethics of your profession, protect lives and property of Rivers people. Be fair to all”.

On the donated vehicles, Governor Fubara said it is an achievement of the Commissioner of Police whose idea it was to make such operational vehicles available for his Command, adding that what he initially planned was to provide very high-profile vehicles to all the security agencies in the State to enhance their operational capabilities much more.

The Governor said; “But, the CP advised that he did it sometime in Lagos State; that we should adopt that model by acquiring these vehicles you are seeing here: the Toyota Sienna, Camry and Collora, and I bought into the idea.

“And why are we doing this? We discovered that the response time to crime scenes; launching attacks against acts of criminality, were slow because police lacked mobility.

“And what we just did was a first phase of support to the Nigerian Police. We also intend to come again to give you other sophisticated vehicles to support what you are doing,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police for Rivers State Command, CP Olatunji Disu, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment towards achieving safety and security of the State.

Disu expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for his unwavering support to the State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, which has translated in their dedication to serving the welfare of the various communities.

The police boss said; “I stand before you filled with gratitude as we gather to commission these 100 vehicles, a generous donation from our esteemed Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. This act of generosity, not only enhances our operational capacity, but also reflects your deep concern for the citizens of the State.

Disu thanked Governor Fubara for his unparalleled leadership, and commitment to good governance in the State and assured that the Police Force will continue to work tirelessly, and perform its professional duties in keeping Rivers State safe and secured for everybody.