Urgent Call for Police to Vacate Rivers State Local Government Buildings: Obey the Courts, Not the ‘Oga at the Top’ – The Ruling is Out! Enough is Enough!, by John Egbeazien Oshodi

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu: The Appeals Court Has Spoken. Will You Allow Local Government Workers and Chairmen to Use Their Buildings? Will You Obey the Law or Bow to Federal Might? You Can’t Be There for Another Minute, No Matter the External Influence! Stop Choking Fubara and the People of Rivers State!

Speaking to the media, the state Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, stated that around mid-June, when tensions were escalating, the local government council headquarters would remain closed due to the ongoing clashes between the feuding parties. This decision came in the wake of a violent confrontation that reportedly resulted in the deaths of a policeman and another individual.

Disu stated, “It is because two groups are fighting over something. Two groups are fighting over it. The other group is waiting to tackle them. We have to prevent them from clashing and killing one another like they did yesterday and killed a policeman and one other person.” While this highlights the need for intervention, it falls short of addressing the root causes of the conflict and the need for conflict resolution strategies. Modern policing emphasizes proactive community engagement to resolve disputes before they escalate to violence.

Disu further explained the necessity of police intervention, emphasizing the priority of maintaining public safety and preventing further violence. “We have to prevent them from going in. We have locked up the local government secretariats. If we allow them (caretaker chairmen) to go in, other people will come out and clash. Then people will ask what are we doing as police officers?” This rationale shows a reactive approach rather than a strategic one. Modern policing requires detailed crowd management plans and de-escalation tactics that address the causes of unrest rather than merely containing it.

Disu also stated, “We are here to prevent a breakdown of law and to protect lives and property. So we know definitely if there is a clash, anything can happen. So we are doing our jobs of protection of lives and property.” While protecting lives and property is fundamental, this statement reflects a defensive posture. Modern policing should focus on building trust within the community and employing preventive measures, such as mediation and dialogue, to avert clashes before they occur.

Additionally, Disu justified the complete shutdown of local government offices, preventing all government workers from entering, due to the potential for clashes between the two political groups. “For the time being, nobody should come in. If we allow local government workers to come in, others will sneak in. So it will still boil down to the same thing. How do we sit and those who are not workers sneak in?” This blanket restriction highlights a lack of nuanced strategy. Modern policing would benefit from controlled access measures and targeted security protocols that allow essential government functions to continue while ensuring safety. Blanket bans can be seen as heavy-handed and can further erode public trust in law enforcement.

When questioned about why local government workers were not allowed into their offices, Disu responded, “For the time being nobody should come in. If we allow local government workers to come in, others will sneak in. So it will still boil down to the same thing. How do we sit and those who are not workers sneak in?” This response reflects a lack of trust in the ability to control access effectively. Modern security measures, such as ID verification and controlled entry points, can ensure that only authorized personnel enter, thus maintaining order without completely shutting down government functions.

Disu concluded, “So it is better we lock up the place and ensure that there is peace. And that is exactly what we are doing.” While this approach might provide a short-term solution, it neglects the need for a long-term strategy to address the underlying tensions. Effective policing involves not just maintaining peace through force but also engaging with the community to build trust and find sustainable solutions to conflict.

In addressing the specific context of the crisis, Disu said, “We are aware of the crisis that has to do with the tenure of the local government chairmen. We have gotten one court order or the other. The Court of Appeal has given an order for everybody to exercise restraint till the 20th of this month, just three days. So we expect everyone to respect it and not to take the laws into their hands and allow peace to continue as it is.” This highlights the importance of respecting judicial decisions and emphasizes the role of law enforcement in ensuring compliance with court orders to maintain public order.

The appeals court did not get to make a ruling until the first week of July, and when it did, it focused on the Rivers State House of Assembly faction loyal to former governor, Nyesom Wike. The assembly members, by law, had lost their seats when they left the PDP for the APC. The appeals court, however, did not touch on substantive issues like seat vacation; instead, it ruled that the high court had no jurisdiction to take on the case. This ruling favored the pro-Wike legislators. Additionally, the appeals court did not address the illegal elongation of the local chairmen’s tenure by pro-Wike legislators whose tenure had ended. When the appeals court ruled just last Thursday, the pro-Wike legislators took it as a signal to return.

As for the tenure of local government chairmen, just some hours ago, the appeals court declared there was no legal basis for an extension of their tenure. Despite this, the police have continued to barricade local government secretariats in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Even when Governor Fubara swore in the Caretaker Committees in the 23 Local Government Areas, the police still did not allow them to use their offices, and staff were not allowed entry.

Knowing the games being played by the police, the federal might, and Wike, Governor Fubara advised the local government workers and the new caretaker committee chairmen to work virtually or online. He told them not to protest as the police and the federal might would blame them and use that tactic to take over the state, which is what Wike and his allies want.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has also expressed surprise at the Nigerian Police Force’s silence over the recent attempted detonation of an explosive device in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The incident occurred during a protest by supporters demanding an extension of tenure for former local government council chairmen. Fubara wondered why, after many weeks, the police have yet to make a statement or take action. The governor maintained that if the act was done by supporters linked to him, terrorism charges would have been slammed on them.

This shutdown underscores the severe political instability in Rivers State, as the conflict between the pro-Wike and pro-Fubara factions escalates. The situation disrupts local governance and poses a significant threat to public safety. While the intervention by the police is necessary to prevent further bloodshed, it highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the political crisis. The police must adopt a more nuanced and strategic approach, utilizing modern security practices and psychological insights to manage the conflict effectively and restore public trust.

The governor is supposed to be the chief of security of the state, but due to compromise and politics—specifically the ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor Wike, who is leveraging federal might to challenge Fubara—the influence of federal authorities is evident in the actions of the police. The commissioner appears to take orders not from Fubara but from Abuja, undermining the governor’s authority and exacerbating the political instability. This is why we need state police, and let the NPF be reduced to guarding federal personnel, buildings, and properties. Imagine them doing nothing but standing guard at post offices and federal buildings all day—it’s almost comical.

To his credit, Governor Fubara has taken significant steps to maintain peace, ensuring that no protests erupt, aware that his side would be blamed for any unrest. His strategic approach has been effective in maintaining relative calm. Now, with the Court of Appeals ruling against the extension of the council leadership’s tenure, the police have no excuse to remain. They must vacate the premises and allow the people of Rivers State to resume their work and for governance to proceed uninterrupted. The power games from Abuja should be confined to Abuja, not played out at the expense of Rivers State’s stability.

Even when we acknowledge that the judiciary also has its complexities, once rulings are issued, they must be respected and enforced by all, including the police and the president. In a country where court orders are not obeyed, the rule of law is fundamentally compromised. Therefore, I assert: the police have no more excuses. Get out of those buildings now.

It is reported that the Abuja police and others within the state are continuing this so-called guard of the buildings, which is a blatant misuse of resources and authority. The courts of appeal have ruled against the extension of the council leadership’s tenure, so the police should withdraw immediately, as the Commissioner of Police and the IGP claimed they were awaiting this decision. This scenario underscores the severe political instability in Rivers State, with escalating tensions between the pro-Wike and pro-Fubara factions. The ongoing disruption of local governance and the significant threat to public safety necessitate immediate, strategic action by the police. Their intervention is crucial to prevent further bloodshed, but it also highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive resolution to the political crisis. The police must adopt a more sophisticated approach, integrating modern security practices and psychological insights to manage the conflict effectively and restore public trust.