Ex AIG Mbu
By Akpan David, Calabar
A former Commissioner of Police in Rivers State who later retired as Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu has raised the alarm over misuse of policemen by governors, top politicians and dignitaries, massive misapplication of monthly security votes by state governors as well as the alleged misgovernace and impunity in Cross River State.
Mbu who retired from the Nigeria Police in 2016 who is known for his vociferous outspokenness and no nonsense posturing has said he is going to lead public protests against his state governor, Prof Ben Ayade for misgovernace, deceit and suppression of the people.
In an interview with journalists in Calabar, the Etung LGA born top cop, spoke against the docility of the people of the state and called them to support the mass protest against the governor.
He intoned that the deliberate denial or stiffening of the police and other security agencies of the share of the monthly security votes in support of their works has allowed the way for the heightened crime wave in the state.
“During the government of Liyel and Donald Duke every DPO had a monthly entitlement of N100, 000 which they used in taking care of the needs of the station; Buy fuel, do patrols and other things. And you say the police is corrupt, what are you doing? Since this government took over, They have never given any DPO a stipend. Area Commanders were being given N250,000 under Liyel Imoke’s administration. The Governor should tell us what he has been giving to these DPO’s. He should tell us what he does with his monthly security votes.”
Mbu has also raised the alarm over the sheer number of Mobile Policemen attached to governors, top politicians and dignitaries in Nigeria to the detriment of the ordinary people. He has therefore called for drastic reduction in the number so that a good number can be posted to normal police duties of patroling the streets. He lamented that policemen are being misused by governor’s and politicians to suppress the very people who elected them.
Mbu expressed disappointment that these days every Special Adviser or appointee to the goveenor has two or more Mobile policemen from OPS attached to them.
“These are police personnel who are supposed to be patrolling the streets of Calabar, the highways. They are supposed to be on the streets in all our major cities, all entry points, all the suburbs. They are there being misused because some heads of police departments are comprised.
“There are circulars on who is entitled to a police officers. Well, I’m waiting for the new Commissioner of Police in the state to resume and then I will tell him if you continue doing this then I’m going to write to the IG and tell him what you are doing.”
Mbu also alleged that Security Personnel are being used to go to cocoa estates and suppress landlords. “These are landlords whose royalties have not been paid for years, yet the government is busy milking the money out with the connivance of a government appointee who is an indigene of that place.”
