Nomination of the former governor of Rivers state, Chief Rotimi Amaechi on the President Muhammadau Buhari’s ministerial list to the Senate has set a stage for trouble in Rivers state as the state Police Command has raised alarm that two opposing groups are planning to protest for and against.
The Command said that while one of the groups would be protesting against the emergence of Amaechi as a ministerial nominee, the other would embark on a rally in support of the former governor’s expected emergence as a minister.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, warned the opposing groups to jettison the planned protest in order not to truncate the existing peace in the state.
Kimo made it clear that the command would not tolerate a situation where the protest would lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.
“The Rivers State Police Commissioner has uncovered clandestine moves by two opposing groups to stage a protest in Port Harcourt purposely to express their support or opposition to the ministerial nomination of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police hereby warns these groups to jettison the plan to stage the protest so as not to truncate the existing peace in the state.
“While the Command respects the individual’s right of peaceful assembly, it will not tolerate a situation where such protests will lead to breach of the public peace and breakdown of law and order.”
The police boss called on the people of the state to remain calm, confident and trust in the ability of the command to discharge its responsibility of ensuring public peace and security as well as upholding democratic rights and rule of law. [myad]
