Ibim Semenitari, ex-commissioner, condemns police for ‘letting loose teargas canisters’ on Fubara

Ibim Semenitari, a former commissioner for information in Rivers, has condemned the police for letting “loose their water canon and teargas canisters” on Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of the state.

On Monday, the governor said he was shot at and teargassed when he visited the state house of assembly amid impeachment plot against him.

“They were shooting at me, directly. But it does not matter. Somebody will die. I want to die so when people hear Fubara, they will say, who is this Fubara, he is that man who was killed that time over a struggle,” the governor had said after the incident.

“I’m not against anybody. I’m not planning anything against anybody but I don’t know where all these things are coming from.”

Reacting to the crisis in a statement,  Semenitari, said plunging the state into another round of violence by political players is “unnecessary and avoidable”.

“Our law enforcement agencies should always draw the line between loyalty to Nigerian taxpayers and political actors,” the former commissioner said.

“It was bizzare to see Nigeria Police personnel let loose their water canon and teargas canisters on the Rivers state governor. I condemn it in very clear terms. 

“This state has had too many political crises and was at no time the ultimate winner.

“At each time, the economy and the people suffered. We cannot continue to whirl in this sad cesspool while other states move up the political and economic ladder. 

“This goes against the grain of all that is noble. The Nigerian constitution is clear on this fact which is that a sub-nation in the Nigerian Federation should have only one elected governor who shall serve a four-year tenure renewable, though, for another four. Why then does anyone want to render the outcome of the elections still born.

“We must beware of elements whose sole interest is to cause mayhem in the Rivers state house of assembly as this could only profit anti-democratic forces and leave the state starved of critical development. 

“The state legislature must be allowed to fulfill their constitutional role of driving critical development in the state via sound and tested legislation.

“To attempt to use the state House of Assembly to sabotage an elected executive is destructive to the good conscience and wellbeing of Rivers state.”