Rivers Political Crisis May Claim Amaechi’s ADC, CSO

The political crisis rocking the Rivers
State House of Assembly may claim
two security operatives attached to
the Rivers State governor, Chibuike
Amaechi.
Amaechi’s Aide de camp (ADC)
Debewari Seimeikumo, and the Chief
Security Officer, Tony Iwelu were
caught on tape assaulting two
legislators during Tuesday’s free for
all in the Assembly.
Debawari is an Assistant Supritendent
of Police (ASP). Iwelu is an operative
of the Department of State Security
(DSS). Both men have been Amaechi’s
security aides since 1999.
Top police and DSS officials told
Pointblanknews that Debawari and
Iwelu may be sanctioned for
“professional misconduct”.
Both officers had reportedly
accompanied Amaechi into the
Assembly chambers ostensibly to
help douse the crisis there.
Apparently caught in the web of the
free for all, the ADC and CSO were
caught on tape holding down member
representing Omuma constituency,
Kelechi Nwogu, whilst Lloyd Chidi
bludgeoned the former’s head with
the mace.
Done with Nwogu, the ADC and CSO,
in the video clip, pounced on
another member believed to be anti-
Amaechi. The ADC dealt several kicks
on the hapless law maker.
Top police and DSS sources told
Pointblanknews that it was
professionally wrong for both officers
to have allowed their principal
(Amaechi) into the Assembly.
Said the police source: “I hear there
is video evidence linking Governor
Amaechi’s ADC to the assault of a law
maker. If this is true, the officer can
be sanctioned for professional
misconduct because he failed to draw
a line between his professional duty
as an officer of the law and his
principal, the governor.”
Added the officer, “what if something
untoward had happened to their
principal, the governor? Who would
have taken responsibility? Governor
Amaechi is a principal officer of the
state whose security must not be
compromised at any given time.”
The officer however added that
Debawari may go unpunished if he is
able to prove that his actions were
aimed at protecting his principal
from a clear and present danger.
A DSS operative said the CSO and
ADC should have drawn lessons from
recent events in Egypt where the
military and police refused to be
dragged into the pro and anti-Morsi
demonstrations.
“Again, the actions of the officers
clearly showed that they don’t
understand the Principle of
Separation of Powers. Imagine the
president storming the National
Assembly on the excuse that there
was the likelihood of breakdown of
law and order.
“Amaechi’s excuse falls flat in the
face of logic. Does that mean that his
ADC and CSO can storm the Chief
Judge’s office on the pretext of
preserving law and order? Amaechi
and his lieutenants clearly had no
business stepping foot in the
hallowed chambers of the Assembly,”
he submitted.
However, a legislator close to the
Amaechi camp said there was nothing
wrong with the governor visiting any
part of the state, particularly with the
prevailing security concerns.
He denied claims that the governor’s
security aides physically assaulted
anybody in the Assembly, let alone
law makers.
“I was there while it lasted. It was the
people now crying wolf who brought
in hoodlums to attack us when it was
clear they wouldn’t be able to
achieve their objective. There is no
truth in the claims,” he stressed.