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Governor Amaechi Ambushed by Federal Government Security Agents
By: Faustinus Nwaorgu
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Published June 19th, 2014
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The
Rivers State Government has expressed concern about the safety of Governor
Amaechi who is right now being held hostage in a 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 yesterday’s morning for Ekiti
state where he was to join his brother governor in his last mega rally before
the elections.
A press statement to NF-Reports by Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner of
information explained that:
“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.
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“In the
meantime, the chattered aircraft that conveyed the governor has
been grounded while the minsters of Defence, police Affairs and
Minister of state for Defence have landed 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.
“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 neither is
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, MurtalaNyako, 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 cannon fodder. Governor Amaechi’s position on cultism,
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 democratic 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 in 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”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress
has called for the arrest of Mr. Jerry Needam, Spokesperson of
Mr. Felix Obuah and Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party for alleging that Governor Chibuike Amaechi was
the brain behind the current influx of the suspected terrorists
to the Southern part of Nigeria.
According to Mr. Needam in a statement issued in Port Harcourt
on 18th June, 2014, “Rotimi Amaechi is responsible for the
recent mass influx of suspected Boko Haram members into
South-Southern and South-Eastern states of Nigeria.”
“To us, this is a very grave allegation that requires the
immediate attention of the security agencies so as to prevent
the menace of Boko Haram spreading to the South, having seen the
damage the sect has caused to the security and economy of
Northern Nigeria. Mr. Needam should help security agencies with
further information on how Governor Amaechi sponsored the
movement of these suspected agents of destruction down to the
South because to us, Governor Amaechi is a fighter against
insecurity and not a promoter of insecurity as painted by the
demented Aide to the PDP State Chairman. If he fails to do so,
he should be cautioned accordingly to avoid such charlatans from
doing much damage to the peace of our nation.
“Boko Haram is not something to be joked with. It is a serious
issue that should not be frivolously used to tarnish the image
of political opponents. For Mr. Needam to accuse a Governor who
has been doing his best to sustain the peace in his state since
assumption of office in 2007 – rescuing Rivers State from the
menace of militants and even ordering two helicopters to assist
security agencies in securing our State – of sponsoring the
influx of miscreants to the Southern part of Nigeria in order to
cause mayhem is very unfortunate.
“It is on record that Governor Amaechi was recently awarded the
Best Governor on Security in Nigeria by the Nigeria Security
Profile Award (NISPA). For Mr. Needam to turn round to accuse
the same man of promoting insecurity simply demonstrates how
empty he and those he is working for are. The security agencies
should arrest and get him to substantiate his bogus allegation.
Anything short of this would encourage charlatans like him
further heat up the polity by making unguarded and frivolous
allegations aimed to demonise innocent public officers”, Rivers
APC concluded. |
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