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The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that his government has no lingering resentments towards the Nigeria Police Force despite the troubling tactics employed by some of its members to obstruct the State’s governance.
Fubara expressed confidence in the police’s professionalism, stating that the worst of them are better than the best of criminals.
Naija News reports that Fubara’s comment comes weeks after the local government elections held in the state on October 5.
Speaking on Friday during his welcoming ceremony for the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala, who arrived in Rivers State two weeks ago, Fubara said despite the misconduct exhibited by a few officers, his commitment will remain committed to supporting the police in their efforts to protect the citizens and their property.
Speaking further at the event held at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Fubara highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the police, other law enforcement bodies and the government in the fight against crime and criminal activities.
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.”
In doing so, Governor Fubara asked them to be very professional, do the right thing always, and refuse to be used against the law and peace of the society.
“I keep saying it at every opportunity I have: I will be the last person that will call any police officer and ask him or her to go and do what is wrong. Even when you are called upon, you need to ask yourself, ask your conscience, what people are telling you to do, is it right?
“You will finish this work and you will live your normal life after service. It is the way you have worked that will determine how you are going to live when you leave the service. Don’t leave the service and start living in fear because of the atrocities that you have committed,” the Governor added.
Governor said that with the peace prevailing in Rivers State, the force will have a fewer tasks to do.
“This State is a very peaceful place. When you were here as Area Commander, you know how the State was then. Now that you are back as the CP, it is God who brought you back so that you will play your role in securing the lives and property of the residents of Rivers State. So, perform that role professionally. We will give you all the necessary support,” the Governor added.
Governor Fubara urged the police management team to develop plans for putting his vision of community policing into action to combat crime across the State.
He highlighted that the public is aware of the criminals causing trouble in certain areas of the State, as they reside in the same communities, including families like mothers, fathers, uncles, and cousins.
Governor Fubara mentioned that the effort to eliminate these criminals should focus on removing them from their hiding places. He emphasized that if community policing is the correct strategy, it must be efficiently implemented to minimize crime to the lowest level possible.
“We cannot completely eliminate crime, that is the truth. In every developing society, crime is one of the issues, but we can try,” he added.
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