Don’t be unfair, it will hurt you, Fubara tells Rivers CP officials

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has advised partisan police officers who are neglecting their core professional duties in pursuit of political gains to realise that the animosity they instigate and ultimately generate will harm them in the long run.

Fubara stressed that police officers are professionally engaged and trained to protect lives and property while contributing to the desired peace in the state as a patriotic duty.

It is therefore a mistake to believe that protecting certain individuals or taking unilateral political actions to the detriment of the state is professionalism, the governor stressed.

Gave this advice on Tuesday at the commissioning and formal handover to the Rivers State Police Command of 100 emergency vehicles purchased by his administration at the Sharks Football Stadium, Port Harcourt.

This was contained in a statement sent to journalists by the spokesman for the Rivers State governor, Nelson Chukwudi. He said: “I have to say this to make you understand, when you (Disu) came to Rivers State and I met you, I asked you for one thing and that is, I will never ask you to do anything wrong, so do what is right, protect the lives and properties of Rivers people, do not be biased.

“We have seen how these people were prejudiced and what they ended up with. And I am here to tell you, partisan officers, you will see what you end up with.

So, try not to be scared if your name comes up in this state or if your children end up in this state. This is important.”

Fubara appealed to them to forget the current political unrest in the state because, according to him, nothing lasts forever.

He urged them to carry out their duties like true professionals who are trained to effectively discharge their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of Rivers State citizens.

The governor added, “This is not to protect anyone. It is not about being one-sided in the political affairs of the state. Politics wax and wane.

The enmity you have created among those you are biased to will remain forever.
“So, I want to give you some advice, I have said it before and I will say it again, I will never ask you to do anything bad. My appeal is to uphold professional ethics and protect the lives and property of Rivers people. Be fair to everyone.”

Governor Nubara commented on the donated vehicles, saying they were the fruit of the police commissioner’s having the idea to provide such emergency vehicles to his command.

Fubara explained that initially, the plan was to provide high-profile vehicles to all security agencies in the state, significantly boosting their operational capabilities.

He said, “But the CP advised us to do this at some point in Lagos State, that we should get vehicles like the Toyota Sienna, Camry and Corolla that you see here and adopt that model, and I was enthusiastic about the idea.”

“And why are we doing this? We found that you (the police) have a slow response time to crime scenes and crime attacks because you (the police) don’t have the mobility.

“And what we just did was the first phase of our support to the Nigeria Police. We will also be back to provide you with other sophisticated vehicles to support your work,” the governor added.

Fubara assured that his administration would continue to support the police as the state government because, in his words, the police are valuable friends just as criminals are not friends to be envied.
He stressed: “We must bear with you.

We must work with you so that the people of Rivers State can finally live freely, move freely and conduct business freely.”

“Your Excellency, I have already said it personally but I say it again, I want to express my gratitude to you. We are committed to your success. We will give you any support so that when you leave here your name will be better known. I am sure God will lift you up in a positive way,” he added.

In his opening remarks, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, described the event as a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment to security in the state. CP Disu expressed his gratitude to Governor Hubara for his unwavering support to the state command which is reflected in his commitment to the welfare of the various communities.

He said: “We stand before you with gratitude as we come together to commission these 100 vehicles, a generous donation from our respected Governor Siminarai Hubara.

“This generous act not only enhances our operational capabilities but also reflects your deep concern for the people of the state.

“These vehicles will empower our police officers, enabling them to respond more quickly and effectively to emergency situations, thus improving policing in our communities. Your Excellency, with your support, we reaffirm our resolve to fight crime and uphold the rule of law.”