Teddy Oscar, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, of excesses and inability to inspire confidence in the contending parties in the state, and petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to transfer him out from the state.
NLC’s petition came on the heels of the reported tear-gassing and brutalisation in Port Harcourt of newly-recruited teachers in the state, who had gathered at the instance of the State’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to receive their letters of posting.
Pointing out that the conduct of the police was unnecessary, shameful, ill-advised, contemptuous, illegal and a throw-back to the dark ages, NLC also demanded for an apology from the police and a firm assurance that it would conduct itself in the future in line with civilized norms and rules of engagement.
It further observed that the right to free and peaceful association, as guaranteed by the Constitution, does not reside with any individual, no matter how-highly placed.
In a letter to the IGP, NLC said: “Even in untowardly circumstances, there are rules of engagement, let alone in a situation where teachers had no motive other than to collect their letters of posting. We are inclined to believe Mr. Joseph Mbu, the State Commissioner of Police, who directed this heinous attack was not acting at your behest because we recall you came into office with a new code of conduct which Nigerians applauded.
“Need we remind overzealous, blood-thirsty and sycophantic officers like Mbu that we are old enough as a nation and sufficiently experienced as citizens of this country to know that it does little good when an officer of his rank compromises his institution or code of conduct in order to appease insular and selfish motives.
“We also had cause earlier to draw your attention to the deliberate closure of Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat at the behest of the State Commissioner of Police. This has resulted in work stoppage and non-payment of workers salary for three months, inflicting untoward suffering to working families whose bread winners work in the local government.
“We repeat for the umpteenth time for the benefit of those who have ears; we need strong institutions to sustain not just our democracy but our society, and the police force should be seen to be part of that process. We do not need time servers, servile people or psychopaths to prosecute this noble agenda because they simply are incapable of doing so.
“In view of the unwarranted and unlawful attack on law-abiding citizens, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands: an apology from the Nigeria Police, a firm assurance from the Police to conduct itself in the future in line with civilized norms and rules of engagement, an investigation of this despicable and ignominious conduct, the evacuation of the police from Obio/Akpor Local Government Secretariat for workers to resume work, and the posting of Mr. Joseph Mbu out of Rivers State for free and unfettered investigation, but especially for his excesses, and his inability to inspire confidence in the contending parties in the state.”
Titled: ‘The Police Must Act With Decency’, the letter, which was signed by the acting general secretary, Comrade Chris Uyot, warned that although it would not like to be drawn into the political disputes in the state, it would not fold its arms while its members are unjustifiably brutalized.
“Similarly, it will not look the other way while acts of impunity and rascality capable of endangering our democracy are perpetrated. The congress is not just a stakeholder in the democratic project it fought grimly for its enthronement,” the letter read.
