Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers said in Port Harcourt on Thursday that soldiers and Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) have been withdrawn from the Government House.
He made this known to members of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments investigating the political crisis bedeviling the State.
He expressed shock at the sudden withdrawal of soldiers and the APC attached to Government House, saying that security commanders in the state had not held meetings with him for two months.
He said, “we are under siege here; for two months now, we have not met with security men.
“Security commanders in the state don?t come to me any longer. They are either scared or they do not want to see me.
“They withdrew the soldiers attached to me yesterday.? And?this morning, they withdrew the APC attached to Government House?, he said.
The governor also told the committee that police fired tear gas
into Government House on July 10, during protest by youths loyal and opposed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
The?Chairman of the committee, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, said they came to investigate and find workable solution to the violence and disturbances rocking the state.
He said the visit was sequel to a motion moved by Sen. Magnus Abe on July 10 on the situation in the state.
“We had two hours in the closed door session to discuss how best to sustain our democracy, how best we could have the legislators perform their functions without undue interference?, he said.
The chairman said the Senate condemned the fracas that happened at the Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday.
He said the committee would meet with the two factions of the state assembly, the Commissioner of Police, State Security Service and the Joint Military Task Force.
“The purpose of our mission is to ensure that peace returned in the state and to maintain good governance, so that the people in the state will relax and have peace.
“We are not happy with what we saw, and what we heard, especially, when we saw people walking in the streets with their hands up as if they are being interrogated or if the state is at war??, he said.
