The lawmakers asked for the transfer of the police commissioner.
The Senate has put the blame for the Rivers state crisis on the “perceived interference” of President Goodluck Jonathan, and the “alleged highhandedness” of the governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and asked for the immediate transfer of the state police chief.
A report adopted by the Senate Thursday, said the crisis that has engulfed the state for months, was the “expression of deep-rooted political crisis occasioned by the alleged highhandedness of Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the perceived undue interference with the political and security structure of the state” by the president, his wife and the hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party.
The Senate ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to “immediately” redeploy the Rivers state commissioner of police, Joseph Mbu, as the commissioner’s “relationship with the Governor has broken down irretrievably”. It accused Mr. Mbu of failing in
his duty of maintaining law and order in the state.
The Senate also resolved to take over the legislative functions of the state assembly-which erupted in violence three weeks ago; while Senate president, David Mark, will also mediate between the feuding parties-Mr. Amaechi and his loyalists, and the president and his backers.
The House of Representatives had earlier taken over those functions while the Senate insisted on investigation first.
President Jonathan has repeatedly denied responsibility or interest in the unrest that has nearly crippled the state.
Mr. Mark said the Senate was not taking sides, but acted on the facts available to it. He said the Senate was committed to the restoration of peacein the oil rich state, but warned the Senate will do all within its power and at all cost to defend the constitution.
“Let me leave no one in doubt that the impunity of the past remain in the past. And the past is gone for good. All that is left is for the proper lessons to be learnt from the past,”Mr. Mark said.
Months of unrest in the oil rich state climaxed July 9 in a violent clash at the House of Assembly, between lawmakers loyal to Mr. Amaechi, and those with links to the president.
Violence erupted after five members in support of the president and wife, moved to sack the assembly’s speaker, who enjoyed the support of at least26 lawmakers.
“Minority members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot remove, and should therefore, never contemplate the impeachment of the Speaker ofthe State House of Assembly or anyone else for that matter and should perish the thought if they ever harbored it,” Mr. Mark said.
The Senate said the crisis has its root in the diverse political forces struggling for the soul of the state. It said Mr. Amaechi’s insistence to run for second term as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) did not go downwell with PDP and the presidency.
The report delivered a particularly harsh verdict on Mr. Mbu, whose role in the crisis has been widely criticised.
“Mbu has refused to cooperate with the Governor, Chibuike Amaechi on matters of security even though the Governor is the Chief Security Officer of the State,” it said





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