BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA —

Sequel to the petition against him by Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mr Joseph Mbu, yesterday, appeared before the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, for interrogation.
Mbu, who was grilled by the commission for over two hours, spoke with newsmen after the closed door meeting, saying he never at any time, received instructions from the ‘First Lady’, Patience Goodluck Jonathan, on how to treat Governor Amaechi.
He said: “I am the Police Commissioner of Rivers state. It is my duty to protect all of you. I do not belong to any political party, but you know that once you are doing the right thing and you are not favouring a particular group, you will be labelled as an enemy.
“It is not true that I am not in good terms with Governor Amaechi, my phone is there; even yesterday, I spoke with my governor the day before

Gov Amechi

yesterday, I spoke with him about four times. Last week, I was in his office twice where we held security meeting with other service commanders. I think the press is over blowing the issues in Rivers state.
“We are working with the governor amicably, but one thing is clear, the enemies of the governor are not my enemies. I am a police officer, an umpire, and my job is to make sure that I protect everybody who is in Rivers state. That is my professional calling and I stand by it.
“We have never been at loggerhead except that I am a professional police officer for over two and half decades. I know my job and I do it well. Anyway, I am not here to discuss my issue with governor of Rivers state. He is my governor, he is my boss but all I am telling you is that we are working well.
“Do you know that I just returned from South Africa where I was selected as the Best Crime Fighting Chief in West Africa by Security Watch West Africa, are you aware?
I am doing my job; it depends on how you look at the coin. Whenever somebody is talking about somebody, of course, you know it is subjective; it is not scientific that four plus four is eight. In politics, seven plus seven can be 21.