Rivers Governor warns New Police Commissioner against Partisan Politics

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has cautioned the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, against engaging in partisan politics during his tenure.

During a courtesy visit by the CP, Governor Fubara emphasized the need for professionalism and apolitical conduct. He specifically warned against attending nocturnal meetings that could potentially lead to unnecessary conflicts within the state.

The Governor highlighted the importance of maintaining law and order, protecting citizens, and addressing key security challenges like cultism and kidnapping. He assured the CP of full government support in achieving these objectives.

He said: “If you leave a bad record here, it will one day affect your growth in the course of your profession. We will not ask you to do anything unprofessional. I have never done that before, and I will not do it in your time.”
He appealed to him to be a professional police officer, saying that his predecessors succeeded because of the government support, assuring him of the same level of support to succeed so that the prevailing peace in the state will continue.

“You are not a greenhorn here; you already know the terrain. You have been operating here. The major challenges we have presently are issues of cultism and kidnapping, especially in the outskirts of town.

“Come with your own plans, and we will give you all the necessary support to ensure these particular crimes are quelled. These are the two areas I would like you to focus on.”

The governor noted that his government had been working with other security agencies to tackle the two security challenges, kidnapping and cultism, but pointed out that they were the primary responsibilities of the police.

While requesting the police boss to make every effort to work with his government to reduce the crime rate, the governor called on him to attend every function of the government.
He said, “Police is the only security agency that ought to work closely with the government, so work with me to ensure Rivers State succeeds, not just for me, as my tenure is limited, but for the survival and success of the state, which is the most important thing. We solicit your support and assure you that, on our part, we will do everything within our powers to ensure your success.”

CP Adepoju, in his remarks, expressed his commitment to working collaboratively with the government and the community to ensure the safety and security of all Rivers State residents. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a neutral and impartial police force.

This interaction underscores the crucial role of a harmonious relationship between the government and the police in ensuring the overall peace and security of the state.