Kelechi Kas
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu are at loggerhead over the posting of a new commission of police, Friday Eboka to Rivers.
Eboka, the Agbor, Delta State indigene took over from the immediate past CP, Joseph Mukan who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General and now in charge of Zone 8, Kogi.
Until his posting to Rivers, Eboka was the CP in charge of railway police.
However, his posting to Rivers has not gone down well with Wike who alleged that the IGP posted Eboka to Rivers at the request of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers.
Eboka, who assumed duties on Friday, will likely receive the same cold shoulders his immediate predecessor, Joseph Mukan received as Wike maintained limited contact with him throughout his nine months tenure as CP.
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Governor Wike said it is very disappointing that the Inspector General of Police will compromise competence in posting a Commissioner of Police to Rivers State because a favour seeking politician had approached him for such patronage.
According to Wike, such handling of touchy issues like insecurity makes it difficult for him to partner with the Federal Government often, especially because they are not committed to solving the insecurity plaguing the country.
He wondered why the Inspector General of Police grants such a demand for posting a CP to compromise competence.
“There is so much insecurity in Nigeria. There are killings everywhere and they (APC) told Nigerians that they will solve the problem. But the problem is not being solved.
“They appoint Commissioner of Police (CP) based on patronage. A politician from my state will go to see the Inspector General of Police and ask him to give him a CP.
“And the IG will not post CP based on competence to fight crime but based on the fact that the man in the party says he wants so and so person.
“When the person comes, will he fight insecurity? No. That’s the problem we have in this country today. How can I partner with such a government? A government that will not do things based on competence.”
