Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, appear set for a face-off, as was witnessed when Mbu Joseph Mbu held sway as the number one police officer in the state.
The bone of contention is the ban on political activities in the state by the commissioner of police.
Ogunsakin had on July 23, issued a press statement reiterating an earlier ban on political activities in the state.
In the statement, the police commissioner had observed with dismay that some political office holders had begun flouting the earlier ban under the guise of local government familiarisation tours or courtesy visits to various local governments in the state, adding that some youth organisations hijacked such visits or tours and turned them into full-scale political rallies.
Reacting through a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Amaechi said he was worried about the police boss’ warning.
He stated: “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to the Commissioner of Police warning the governor of Rivers State about campaigning during his ward tours. The Rivers State Government is worried about the tone of the statement accredited to Mr. Ogunsakin and concerned about the implication of the same.”
Amaechi emphasised that since he assumed office in 2007, he had always embarked on what he called stewardship accountability and making participatory government one of  the key elements of his administration.
“Town hall meetings, meet-the-people tours and engagement with professional groups and other publics, are neither novel nor strange with the Amaechi regime. The alleged comments of the police commissioner appear curious, especially coming on the heels of the overtly political purported endorsement on Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, for governor by some members of the Rumuolumeni community and the visit of the wife of the president to local government areas in Rivers State.”
The governor wondered why Ogunsakin did not see anything wrong in the gathering, organsied by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where the party campaigned for 2015.
“While the purpose of these obvious political gatherings of the PDP is campaign for 2015, Ogunsakin appears unable to see or hear any evil. The Rivers State Government is conscious of this but wishes to reassure Ogunsakin that it is not a brigand or an irresponsible government.
“Governor Amaechi has clearly stated that the purpose of his ward tours is to find out the impact of his numerous projects on the people at the grassroots and what gaps still exist to enable him cross all t’s and dot all the i’s as his administration finishes its last lap.
“We can state unequivocally that we will not disregard the rules of engagement and that when we are set for campaign, it will be clear not just to the Rivers State Police Command but to the entire world. We will not hide our glowing light under a bushel. However, we would wish to respectfully request Ogunsakin to be even handed in his caution and ensure that what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. Ultimately, the people are his employers and it is first to God and then to Nigeria and its citizens that he must owe his ultimate allegiance.”

Amaechi, Rivers CP set to clash