Governor Amaechi's Life in danger

Barely 24 hours after Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and four of his colleagues from the North, who paid him solidarity visit were pelted with stones by political opponents in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi has raised alarm that his life was in danger.

The governor said that some strange policemen and "intelligence officers" were deployed in his lodges in Port Harcourt and Abuja without his consent by higher authorities...

The governor raised the alarm on a day the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Chidi Lloyd was declared wanted by the State Police Command even as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka warned that this “notorious proceeding will not be permitted to fester unchallenged.”

The Inspector General of Police  has also summoned to the Force Headquarters, Governor Amaechi’s Chief Security Officer, Mr Tony Iwelu as well as the House Leader.

Threat to Amaechi’s life
On the threat to Governor Amaechi’s life, Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. George Feyii, in a statement made available to Vanguard in Abuja, recalled the surreptitious deployment of strange policemen and intelligence officers to the governor’s lodges in Abuja and Port Harcourt without the involvement of the governor as was the practice nationwide.

Feyii said: “The Rivers State Government notes with distress what is now an apparent attack on the person of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“On Tuesday, two policemen, one of them, Inspector Bawa, reported to the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge at Justice Mohammed Bello Street, Asokoro, FCT Abuja.

“They claimed to have been posted by Nigeria Police Force Headquarters to monitor the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge.

“Earlier, four intelligence officers had been posted to Government House, Port Harcourt by the Rivers State Police Command. These postings were done without any notification or reference to Governor Amaechi.

“We are aware that on issues of personal safety, an official reserves the right to pick the security personnel to whom he may entrust his safety. This is more so in the case of a state governor.

“The policemen insisted on Wednesday morning (yesterday) that they had directives to remain at the gate of the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge. Not only is the Rivers State Government uncertain of the true identity of these gentlemen, we are worried as to the true intent behind these latest postings.

“In recent times, events in Rivers State and especially around Governor Amaechi have been suggestive of deliberate nonchalance at best, and complicity at worst in the security breaches that have occurred. This trend has continued despite a passionate appeal to the highest levels of authority.

“We are worried that we can no longer guarantee the safety of Governor Chibuike Amaechi and wish to reiterate our call on all relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Governor Amaechi and the peace and security of everyone in Rivers State”, the SSG pleaded.