The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar on Wednesday denied knowledge of any attack on the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, insisting it is not true.
“That is not true, no reasonable commissioner of police will go and tear gas government house, it is not true.
“I have sent a DIG in charge of operations, he is in Port Harcourt and he will brief me the happenings and the action taken by police in Rivers state and necessary action will be taken against anybody who has anything to defend.
But, the state government confirmed that the Government House was actually attacked by thugs, allegedly assisted by police on its Twitter handle.
The state’s House of assembly was also attacked by hoodlums on Tuesday and in the mayhem that ensued, some lawmakers were seriously injured.
The IGP however, said he had sent a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Operations to Port Harcourt to investigate the invasion of the the state’s House of Assembly on Tuesday.
He spoke with State House correspondents on Wednesday after a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo, obviously to review the development in Rivers in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who is away in China.
“You see, the police have a responsibility to protect the citizen of this country but remember, we saw the video clip and you saw those who went to the Assembly.
“I think you should be asking who were those who went to the assembly and why they went to the assembly? We are investigating that matter and whoever is found wanting will be sanctioned,’ he said.
On pundits view that police in Rivers are being dragged into local politics, Mohammed retorted, “You are free to make allegation but the allegation must be substantiated that yes, he has done something stupid.
“I have not gotten any written documentation that accused the commissioner of police of one particular offence till today”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives, in exercise of its constitutional power contained in section 11, sub section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, has taken over the functions of the Rivers state House of assembly. The plenary session was presided over by Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.
“At any time when any House of Assembly of a state is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in the state, The National Assembly may make such Laws for the peace, order and good government of that state with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions; and any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the state, the Section states.”
The Lower Chamber’s action was sequel to the pandemonium that broke out at the Assembly on Tuesday which left some of the state lawmakers seriously injured.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers has been at loggerheads with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the state who are loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan that they perceived the Governor is fighting.
Rivers PDP chairman, Felix Obuah led party leaders and elders including former Governor Peter Odili to Aso Rock last week to apologise to the President on the embarrassment Governor Amaechi may have caused him.
They also insisted that the governor who is currently on suspension from the ruling party will not be recalled unless he apologise and “show respect”.
