Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that his administration bear no grudge against the Nigeria Police Force despite the disconcerting ploys some of its officers had engaged in to derail governance in the State.
Governor Fubara made the declaration when he played host to the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala, deployed two weeks ago to Rivers State Command at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Governor Fubara said that despite the display of unprofessionalism of some police officers, his administration has remained a dependable partner of the police in the quest to ensure security of lives and property of all Rivers people.
The Governor said it is for this reason and more that he is receiving the new CP with open hands because the police must continue to collaborate with other sister agencies and the government to fight all forms of crime and criminality persistently.
He said, “I can say that we are receiving you with open hands, that is the truth. We don’t have any option. The worst of you, the worst of Police is still better than the best of criminals.
“So, we need to embrace you, whichever way, because you are our friends. We might have our differences, but the most important thing is that the protection of lives, and the security of the State are your responsibility. So, we must work together not minding issues that we have had in the past.
“But, I need to just set some records straight: This government as it stands today, as it moves on, has no personal problem with the Nigeria Police Force, more especially the Rivers State Command.
“I can boldly say here that not minding whatever had happened in the past, we have lived up to our own responsibility in supporting the Nigeria Police. So, for us to do this, we understand the important role that the police play in our State.”
