The Rivers State government has released a statement on the incident, according to Premium Times:
The Rivers State Government is concerned
about the safety of Governor Amaechi who is right now being held
hostage commando style by soldiers and federal government security
agents in Odudu, Ondo state.
Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the
Nigeria Governors’ forum and as an APC governor and chieftain had left
Port Harcourt this morning for Ekiti state where he was to join his
brother governor in his last mega rally before the elections.
Governor Amaechi was ambushed and
refused entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on orders from
above. He made to turn back and return to Akure where his chattered
aircraft was parked but was chased and rounded by armed soldiers and
security personnel in Odudu, Ondo state. According to the captain who
led the operation, he had orders not to allow the governor entry or
exit.
In the meantime, the chattered aircraft
that conveyed he governor has been grounded while the minsters of
Defence, police Affairs and Minister of state for Defence have landed at
the Akure airport.
The Rivers State government is
especially worried that Federal government and President Jonathan have
singled out Governor Amaechi for harassment and attack.
While we hold the person and office of the President in utmost regards, we believe that it is unacceptable that the presidency would disrespect the person and office of an elected governor of a federating unit and consistently hound him.
While we hold the person and office of the President in utmost regards, we believe that it is unacceptable that the presidency would disrespect the person and office of an elected governor of a federating unit and consistently hound him.
The Rivers state government is all more
worried as Ondo saga is coming on the heels of a plot by six PDP
lawmakers this morning to carry out a kangaroo impeachment of the duly
elected governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, con
first at Krisdara hotels and later Bauchi street, Port Harcourt.
Ordinarily such banality should be
ignored as it is neither legal nor constitutional. However in the light
of the recent attempts to hoist a Chief Judge on Rivers people through
the back door and the attendant rumours that the reason for that
desperate act was to make it easier for the PDP to actualize its
sinister daydream of ousting Governor Amaechi before May 29, 2015,
we believe that it has become necessary to draw the attention of Rivers
people, Nigerians and the international community to the situation in
Rivers State.
Only yesterday, in preparation for this
tragicomedy, the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) accused Governor Amaechi of importing terrorists into the state
and the region. They continued their diatribe by demanding that the
governor of Rivers State be put under surveillance. The State Government
wouldn’t have dignified the PDP’s display of ignorance with a response
but for the fact that these accusations coupled with today’s actions are
omniuos signs of how far the PDP is willing to go in its quest to cling
onto power by all means.
The antecedents of impunity on the part
of the leadership of the PDP are instructive and the party’s desperation
to harm and stop anyone they perceive as major threat to their
crumpling electoral fortunes next year is no longer news. The detention
attempt and incident at the Kano International Airport last week are
still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. Also, the call to put Gov Amaechi
under surveillance (or is it house arrest?) on the same day that PDP
started effort to unseat the Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency,
Murtala Nyako, is enough indication of the script already written by a
jittery PDP
It is sad that the insane minds of the
authors of the PDP accusation are jeopardizing police investigations of
the 486 travellers who were intercepted in Aba, Abia State, and who are
still being screened. One only wishes that the PDP would address the
issues of the insecurity in the country with as much fervor and vigour
as it deploys towards witch hunting its political opponents
The River Government wishes to state
that the world knows those who feather the nest of cultists and
militants and for whom they are canon fodder. Governor Amaechi’s
position on cultisim, violence and insecurity are clear as is his
commitment to fighting poverty and improving the lives of our present
and future generations.
The Rivers State Government will not be deterred in its efforts to deliver good governance and ddemocratic dividends to our people.
The Rivers State Government will not be deterred in its efforts to deliver good governance and ddemocratic dividends to our people.
We appeal to all Rivers people appeals
to all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and citizens in
the state to remain calm in the face of these provocations.
We call on the Security Agencies to
exhibit professionalism in their conduct of affairs. We appeal to all
well meaning people in Nigeria and around the world to please call the
PDP to order before they truncate our democracy.
It appears to us that the PDP clearly have no interest in the peace and stability either Rivers state.
We are mindful of these mischievous elements but continue to call for tolerance and eternal vigilance. We are certain that the God who reigns in the affairs of Rivers people will again deliver us from this evil and terror that stalks us at noon day
It appears to us that the PDP clearly have no interest in the peace and stability either Rivers state.
We are mindful of these mischievous elements but continue to call for tolerance and eternal vigilance. We are certain that the God who reigns in the affairs of Rivers people will again deliver us from this evil and terror that stalks us at noon day
Signed
Ibim Semenitari
Commissioner of Information and Communications
Ibim Semenitari
Commissioner of Information and Communications
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