Mbu bans political rallies in Rivers

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu

News By Punch

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, on Monday placed a ban on rallies in the state.

Mbu, who said the decision was based on the increasing political tension in the state, specifically said the ban affected political rallies. Before the outright ban, the CP had directed that those holding rallies in the state should apply for permission from the police. He also prohibited activities involving the Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement, and the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation. A statement signed by the state police command’s spokesman, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad read, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that as a result of increasing political tension in the state, the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, has banned all political rallies in the state under whatever coloration or name.

“Accordingly, all public activities involving rallies of Grassroots Development Initiative, Save Rivers Movement,  Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation and whatever other names, are hereby banned.” Mbu warned that the police would not provide security for any group that henceforth organise rallies. The CP, however, said that party membership registration would only be allowed based on the provisions of the Electoral Act and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

 “Rivers State Police Command will not, I repeat, will not provide security for any group in whatever guise. Party membership drive is allowed strictly as stipulated in Electoral Act 2010 as amended and INEC regulations, please,” the police statement added. Reacting, the President of the Save Rivers Movement, Mr. Charles Ahorlu, said the police had no right to ban political rallies in the state.

Ahorlu, who spoke in a telephone interview with The PUNCH, explained that the state police command was arrogating to itself the power not vested in it by the Nigerian Constitution. He said, “We will not take the ban on rallies lightly. They even stated that they will not provide security for any group that organises rallies. We will not take this ban on rallies lightly.

“Where were the police when the Grassroots Development Initiative was traversing all nooks and crannies of the state, holding political rallies in all the local government areas of the state?” However, the GDI national spokesman, Mr. Godwill Omunakwe, said his group was ready to comply with the ban on political rallies by the police. Omunakwe said that President Goodluck Jonathan had maintained that he did not want any loss of life for any political reason.

He said, “The truth is that the police are there to protect us. Before now, we have been applying for police permit before we organise our rallies. But we are going to comply fully with police ban on rallies.

“You are aware that the President has said that he did not want any life to be lost for his sake or for any political reason.” But the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Mr. Felix Obuah, described the ban on political rallies as a gang-up between the police and the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Obuah said the ban on political rallies was targeted at stopping the PDP from taking its campaign to the various local government areas of the state.

“I just believe it (ban on rallies by the police) is against the PDP. The PDP has not started its rallies and anytime from now, we are planning to embark on our rallies from one local government area to the other.

“The ban on political rallies is a gang-up between the police and Amaechi. Governor Amaechi knows that he cannot reach out to the people,” he said.