Fubara tells the new Police Commissioner how to operate in Rivers State

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Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, has counselled Olugbenga Adepoju, the recently appointed commissioner of police for the state, to avoid the temptation to attend meetings at night that might prompt him to wage war on the Rivers people.

Instead, the governor asked him to prioritise the needs of the State’s citizens over all other factors so that he could endeavour to maintain stability and peace.

When CP Olugbenga Adepoju, the 47th Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, paid Governor Fubara a courtesy call at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, he delivered the advise.

The governor said, “You are not a new person in our state. You’ve been here, more especially, in charge of Operations. It then means if I start to talk about my story, it’ll connect with your activities in operations. But I am not going to talk about my story.

“But the good thing here is that you said something that I want to anchor on. Your duty, as it stands now, is to work with the government and work with other sister agencies to maintain law and order and protect the lives and property of the people of Rivers State.

“Be apolitical, as you just read in your address. Don’t go to nocturnal meetings in people’s houses, and in the morning, you come and declare war on Rivers people. That is the only advice I will give to you.”

Governor Fubara tasked the CP, who is already familiar with the topography of Rivers State and the security issues that come with it, with developing a comprehensive strategy to address the twin issues of youth cultism and kidnappings in border villages.

Governor Fubara stated, adding that his administration is fulfilling its obligations to security agencies to adequately address those concerns and save Rivers people, adding, “But the primary duty of this team is that these particular challenges are rested on the police. So, please, take this one as my assignment (to you).

“While you are carrying out the larger assignment that your people from headquarters will send you, also make sure that you look for every way possible to reduce issues of cultism because it is affecting our secondary schools, it is affecting our primary schools with students growing to become monsters, which is also leading to other issues like kidnapping and others.

“It starts from somewhere. So, we must also get to the root and reduce it. I know we cannot eliminate it, but, somehow, let us look for a way to reduce it.”

According to Governor Fubara, the former CP for the State was successful because he was able to maintain a positive working relationship with the State Government and promised the same type of support would be provided to the new CP, if he adhered to the tenets of professionalism, stressing, “On our part as a government, we will continue to support you to make sure you succeed. Your success here will mean more elevation for you. If you have a very bad record here, whether you like it or not, it will one day, in the course of your profession, affect your growth.”

In his speech, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, the 47th Commissioner of Police of Rivers State, conveyed his sincere appreciation for the chance to serve the strong and dynamic citizens of Rivers State.

According to CP Adepoju, he is fully aware of the State’s intricate security concerns and is committed to using all of his professional resources to address them creatively.

He said, “We will strengthen our intelligence-gathering capabilities, enhance our rapid response mechanism, and most importantly, foster deeper trust and collaboration with the community we serve. Our Command will remain firmly apolitical, standing as a neutral and impartial institution dedicated solely to upholding law and order. This commitment is vital to maintaining the trust and confidence of the people we protect.”

CP Adepoju also said, “While we will engage constructively with political leaders and key stakeholders to secure necessary resources and support, our engagement will always be conducted with professionalism and integrity.”

Two policemen were decorated with their new ranks as Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) in Government House by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju.

Among them are Anthony Peter, the Governor’s personal security officer, who was recently promoted from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP 1) to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP); and John Wakama, the Provost Marshal of Government House, who was also named a DSP after being promoted from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP 1).

The wives of the recently promoted officers assisted the Governor and the Commissioner of Police during the brief celebration.

Shortly after the State Commissioner of Police’s courtesy visit to the Governor on Friday at Government House in Port Harcourt, the decoration ceremony took place.

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