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  • Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar has deplored the incessant police harassment of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

    He said the situation had become incomprehensible, outrageous and humiliating.

    In a statement by his media office yesterday, Atiku said he was embarrassed by the excesses and open partisanship against a democratically- elected governor, who is also the chief security officer of the state.

    He urged the police in Rivers State to halt their siege to the new PDP headquarters in Abuja, which has entered its second week.

    “Nothing justifies the advocacy for the decentralisation of the police by allowing states to set up their own more than this.

    “There is nowhere in the world the police would take sides in private political conflicts at the expense of its constitutional role”, the statement added.

    The former Vice- President regretted that the persistent harassment of the governor had gone too far to be tolerated by decent public opinion and other leaders.

    The glaring partisanship of the police, Atiku argued, would continue to elicit agitation for state police by Nigerians.

    “Police partisanship must stop immediately because it poses a threat to our nascent democracy. Our police force must concentrate on providing safety and security for Nigerians, who face daily threats of violence and kidnappings.

    “Nigeria continues to head in the wrong direction. We face chronic joblessness and now a crippling, three-month long ASUU strike preventing students from attending school. This is where the Federal Government’s focus must be, not on launching partisan police actions”, Atiku said.

    The former Vice- President also noted that considering the heavy expenditure state governments make to equip and support the police, the harassment of Amaechi could undermine such cooperation.

    Each state in the federation has been contributing from source, one per cent of its allocation towards funding the police.

  • Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Atiku deplores police harassment of Amaechi

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has deplored the incessant police harassment of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, saying the situation has become incomprehensible, outrageous and humiliating.

    In a statement issued by his media office on Monday, Atiku said he was highly embarrassed by the excesses and open partisanship against a democratically elected governor who is also the chief security officer of the state.

    He called on the police in Rivers State to halt their siege against the new Peoples Democratic Party headquarters in Abuja, which has entered its second week.

    “Nothing justifies the advocacy for the decentralization of the police by allowing states to set up their own more than this.

    “There is nowhere in the world the police would take sides in private political conflicts at the expense of its constitutional role,” the statement added.

    The former vice president regretted that the persistent harassment of the governor has gone too far to be tolerated by decent public opinion and other leaders.

    The glaring partisanship of the police, Atiku argued would continue to elicit agitation for state police by the Nigerian people.

    “Police partisanship must stop immediately because it poses a threat to our nascent democracy. Our police force must concentrate solely on providing safety and security for Nigerians who face daily threats of violence and kidnappings.

    “Nigeria continues to head in the wrong direction. We face chronic joblessness and now a crippling, three-month long ASUU strike preventing students from attending school. That is where the Federal Government’s focus must be, not on launching partisan police actions,” Atiku stated.

    He also noted that, considering the heavy expenditure state governments make to equip and support the police, the harassment of Amaechi could undermine such cooperation.

     

     

     

  • Hold Presidency responsible if any harm befalls Amaechi, says Rivers’ Forum

    Hold Presidency responsible if any harm befalls Amaechi, says Rivers’ Forum

    •He’s a liar – Rivers PDP

    The Rivers’ Peoples Forum (RPF) has stated that the Presidency should be held responsible, if any harm befalls Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The group, a leading socio-political organisation of all Rivers people, both at home and in the Diaspora, also declared that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was behind the many political travails of Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    RPF, through its president, Charles Bekwele, yesterday in Port Harcourt, after an executive meeting, strongly condemned Thursday evening’s police blockade of the Forces Avenue, the road leading to the Government House, with the governor’s convoy forced to take a longer route.

    The forum described the blockade as one attack too many on the person and office of the governor of Rivers state.

    However, the Peoples Democratic Party has faulted the claims saying the allegation was supported by a concocted video footage on the internet was a calculated ploy to further smear the name of the Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu whom he (Amaechi) has continued to demand his removal from the state.

    The party, in a statement by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on media to the State Chairman Felix Obuah, explained that Amaechi “in his usual characteristic only intended to win public sympathy as there was no reason for his choice of that route at the period when there are several access roads, some of which are direct and smoother leading to the Government House.”

    But RPF said it was shameful and a big insult on the sensibilities of Nigerians, the reaction of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the PDP on the intimidation and embarrassment of the Rivers governor by the Mbu-led police.

    The forum stated that: “This current attack on the office and person of the Governor of Rivers State is one attack too many. They have grounded the official plane of the Rivers State Government. They have withdrawn some of Amaechi’s security aides, thereby exposing the governor to harm and danger. All these are being orchestrated by certain interests within the Presidency. The Presidency has been consistent in its harassment, intimidation and attack.”

    It claimed that all these were being done because of 2015 adding, “They (Presidency) believe Amaechi will not support President Jonathan’s 2015 election. The Presidency must stop using the apparatus of state to harass, intimidate and attack an elected governor.” It called on Nigerians and the international community to be alert, adding, “if any harm befalls Governor Amaechi, the Presidency should be held responsible.”

    It wondered how the country’s fund was being used to hound an elected official. It observed that, “It is totally irresponsible, repressive, undemocratic, tyrannical and condemnable. We are not in a military dictatorship, a jackboot regime. It is against the tenets and principles of our constitution. These interests in the Presidency must be told in clear terms that the country does not belong to the Presidency, but to all of us in the federation. The Presidency must stop using the police, the aviation ministry and any other institution or agency of state to harass and attack Amaechi.”

    The Forum said if the Presidency had any disagreement with the governor, it should be resolved politically rather than dragging the institutions of state into political disagreements within the party.

     

  • Forum alleges plot to remove Amaechi

    Forum alleges plot to remove Amaechi

    The Rivers Peoples Forum (RPF) alleged yesterday that there is a plot for minority lawmakers to remove Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi from office.

    Thereafter, the RPF alleged, Amaechi, who had a running disagreement with President Goodluck Jonathan before joining six other governors to form the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will be put on trial on “phantom charges” .

    In a statement by Charles Bekwele on behalf of the RPF, the socio-political group alleged that a “certain interest within the Presidency” is working to illegally and unconstitutionally remove Amaechi by giving him what is code named “the Alamieyeseigha treatment”.

    Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a former governor of Bayelsa State, was removed from office by minority members of the House of Assembly in 2005. He fled abroad but returned and was put on trial and jailed after being found guilty of corruptly enriching himself.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, who served as his deputy when he was Bayelsa governor, granted him amnesty.

    The RPF alleged that “the plan is to thoroughly embarrass and disgrace Governor Amaechi, which they believe will serve as a warning and deterrent to other ‘dissident’ governors and dissenting politicians within the PDP who are perceived or considered to be opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan and his second term ambition.”

    The recent reported withdrawal of some of Amaechi’s security detail is said to be part of the grand plot.

    “We were further compelled to alert the general public, Nigerians, the diplomatic community and the international community on this plot when we read a newspaper story that President Jonathan has completely ruled out settlement with Governor Amaechi but he’s ready for reconciliation with the six northern governors in the ‘new PDP’.

    The group wondered “why Mr. President is ready and willing to settle and reconcile with six aggrieved northern governors in the ‘new PDP’, but has ruled out settlement and reconciliation with Amaechi, who is his brother from same Southsouth zone?

    It then warned that “as the umbrella body of all Rivers (State) people both at home and in the Diaspora, we want to state categorically that Rivers people will not accept and will vehemently resist any attempt, any move to illegally, and unconstitutionally remove Governor Amaechi from office as the elected governor of Rivers State. We freely gave Governor Amaechi our votes and our mandate to serve as governor for four years and he must be allowed to serve out his four year term.

    “For clarity and emphasis, we want to restate that any move to remove Governor Amaechi in any Kangaroo manner, not prescribed in the Nigerian constitution will be strongly and firmly resisted by the entire Rivers people with everything that we have.

    “The plotters are hereby advised in their own good and for the good of the country to desist from such sinister plot. Rivers people elected Governor Amaechi and are indeed pleased with his performance and achievements. No one has the right to illegally boot him out of office because of petty political disagreements. Rivers people say no to impunity. “

    An attempt was earlier made to remove Amaechi when five lawmakers loyal to Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike convened on the House of Assembly complex in July.

    Amaechi and the other lawmakers loyal to him stormed the House and prevented the illegal sitting.

    This led to a serious fracas in which many lawmakers were injured.

    House Leader Chidi Lloyd was arrested and arraigned for assault.

     

  • Rivers PDP chair seeks expulsion of Amaechi, Lamido, Wamakko

    Rivers PDP chair seeks expulsion of Amaechi, Lamido, Wamakko

    The Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, has called for the expulsion of Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and others for joining the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the PDP.

    Obuah spoke with reporters in Abuja yesterday after a meeting with the national leadership of the party.

    He said: “If I were to be the national chairman of the PDP, I would expel Amaechi and his co travellers. Amaechi should forgo his ambition. Supporting the Baraje faction is supporting dissidents. Amaechi is not a member of the PDP.

    “The crisis we have in the PDP today is man-made. Before now, those six governors had been going from one place to another in their personal interest.

    “Their personal interest cannot override the interest of the nation. What happened at the Eagle Square was a manifestation of what I have said prior to this period; that they are already out. They are working with APC, PDM, VOP. These parties are being financed by these governors championed by Amaechi.

    “How can you support illegality. I have said it time without number, that this man (Amaechi) is always in opposition states. Every time, opposition party members are visiting him.

    “And for him to come and say he is supporting a dissident group, that is to show that he is supporting opposition party. And some of them have said they are ready to leave our party.

    “Before now, I have told our people that his (Amaechi) soul and spirit are not with us; only his face is in PDP. Amaechi and co are not in PDP. They are part of those sponsoring opposition and I stand to be corrected.

    “They are playing anti-party activities. if I were to be the national chairman, I would have expelled them from the party. Because the Bible said if one hand would make you sin, cut it off.

    “ In my state, all those people who want to play anti-party activities, we made sure they were given the chance to leave. I would ask them to leave and give them the proper place to be so that people who are around would make sure PDP wins any day any time.

    “The crisis in Rivers State is the handiwork of Amaechi because he has been acting contrary to the rule of law. He acted contrary to the rule of law by suspending the executive of the Obiokpor local government council.”

     

  • Rivers political crisis: Amaechi, CP Mbu’s face-off deepens

    Rivers political crisis: Amaechi, CP Mbu’s face-off deepens

    The face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, deepened yesterday after the governor accused Mbu of putting up lame and unsatisfactory argument about Thursday’s sudden redeployment of his (governor’s) Escort Commander.

    The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, described Mbu’s excuse as an after-thought.

    However, the police commissioner, responding through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), insisted that the escort commander’s redeployment was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar.

    The CP said he is simply a professional police officer and not a politician.

    Amaechi and Mbu have been at loggerheads since February this year when the governor asked for the CP’s immediate redeployment, which he described as the only condition for peace in the Niger Delta state.

    He accused Mbu of taking sides in the state’s political crisis.

    On Thursday, Amaechi said that Mbu redeployed the escort commander because he refused his (Mbu’s) directive to furnish him with prior information on the governor’s movement.

    The NGF chairman noted that the escort commander was not in charge of his protocol and would not have prior knowledge of his movement, especially in the prevailing circumstances regarding security in the state.

    The governor pointed out that after redeploying the escort commander, Mbu also requested the Camp Commandant of Government House, Port Harcourt, to give him prior briefing of his daily movement, which he said in practice, would be difficult to comply with, unless the camp commandant gets prior knowledge of his movement. This the CP denied.

    Irked by Mbu’s defence, Amaechi, through his information commissioner, said in Port Harcourt yesterday that the excuse now given by Mr. Mbu was not “the reason given, when both the Escort Commander and the Camp Commandant were invited to the Police Headquarters (in Port Harcourt).

    “This excuse was also not offered when the governor personally called Mr. Mbu to complain about the removal of his escort commander.

    “Matters of personal security of government functionaries and especially top officials like the governor of the state are discussed and agreed with these officials.

    “Even if for the purpose of argument, it is indeed factual that the IGP ordered the redeployment of Governor Amaechi’s Escort Commander, wouldn’t the courteous thing be for the Commissioner of Police and the police high command to inform and explain this to Governor Amaechi?

    “On matters of his personal security, a governor reserves the right to reject or accept security details, as he may be comfortable with. The Rivers State Government, therefore, is reluctant to accept what it considers a lame and unsatisfactory argument by the Rivers State Police Command.”

    On September 2, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Rivers State Governor, Debeware Semeikumo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was declared a deserter by Mbu, over the July 9 fracas in the state’s House of Assembly and also removed him (Semeikumo) as the ADC to Amaechi.

    Semenitari described the CP’s action as another mischief, stating that the Rivers police command was aware that Semeikumo sustained injuries and had been away for better medical treatment.

    The Rivers police commissioner maintained that the ADC to Rivers governor was declared a deserter, following his alleged failure to honour all lawful directives to see him and the IGP since July 10, 2013.

    Mbu said: “The decision to declare Semeikumo a deserter followed Section 398 (1) of the Police Act and the Regulation Cap 359 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

    “The whereabouts of Semeikumo remain unknown to the police. IGP Abubakar has approved his declaration as a deserter.”

  • ‘Atiku, Amaechi welcome in APC’

    ‘Atiku, Amaechi welcome in APC’

    •’PDP’s show of shame at convention sad’

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his associates have been urged to align with progressives in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to usher in a government that will be committed to the well-being of the masses.

    An APC chieftain in Oyo State, Mr. Akinrogun Taiwo, made the call yesterday while speaking with reporters in Oyo town.

    He urged Nigerians not to despair because of the “show of shame, travesty of democracy and executive power drunkenness” exhibited by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its mini-convention, but to team up with the APC to get rid of the PDP.

    Taiwo said Nigerians have every reason to worry in the face of the “lawlessness, injustice, tensed calmness, fragile unity, suspicions and dire want in the midst of plenty” that characterises the “self-acclaimed largest party in Africa and the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    The APC chieftain, who is the coordinator of the former Oyo PDP Members’ Forum and the Abiola Ajimobi Re-election Consultative Forum, saluted the “courage and sincerity of purpose” demonstrated by Atiku, Alhaji Usman Bugaje, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his allies for kicking against “injustice and the rape of democracy”.

    He said: “What happened at the PDP mini-convention is a danger signal to democracy. It is sad that a party, which claims to have internal democracy, could not conduct free and fair elections.

    “The way Atiku, Amaechi, his allies and other notable party delegates walked out against the injustice perpetuated by President Jonathan indicated that he (the President) could no longer be relied on in steering the ship of the country. It also signified the beginning of the end of the PDP. Former PDP leaders and members now in the progressive fold have been vindicated.”

     

  • Police declare Amaechi’s ADC a deserter

    Police declare Amaechi’s ADC a deserter

    •Govt: action a mischief

    The Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Debeware Semeikumo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was yesterday declared a deserter by Rivers police.

    Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu also removed Semeikumo as the ADC to the governor.

    The Rivers State Government described the police’s action as “another mischief”.

    Commissioner for Imformation Semenitari said Rivers police was aware that Semeikumo sustained injuries and had been away for further medical treatment.

    Mbu spoke in Port Harcourt through the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP, Administration), Augustine Sanomi.

    The Rivers police commissioner said the ADC was declared a deserter, following his alleged failure to honour all lawful directives to see him and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, since July 10.

    Mbu said: “The decision to declare Semeikumo a deserter followed Section 398 (1) of the Police Act and the Regulation Cap 359 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

    “The whereabouts of Semeikumo remain unknown to the police. IGP Abubakar has approved his declaration as a deserter.”

    It will be recalled that the Leader of the Rivers Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, was on July 17 declared wanted by Mbu for attempted murder, conspiracy and wilful damage, over the July 9 fracas.

    The IGP invited Lloyd, the ADC to Amaechi and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Tony Iwelu. The ADC and CSO are yet to honour the invitation.

     

  • Amaechi: where I stand on PDP crisis

    Amaechi: where I stand on PDP crisis

    Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi said yesterday that he belongs to the faction of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

    Amaechi spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt shortly after arriving from Abuja.

    Speaking on the pulling out of some PDP governors and Stakeholders at the weekend’s PDP mini convention in Abuja and the subsequent press briefing by the Atiku Abubakar-led PDP faction, Amaechi said: “I am not the national chairman, the national chairman is Abubakar Kawu Baraje and he is the only person who is qualified to speak for now or the publicity secretary. All I know is that I belong to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) led by Abubakar Kawu Baraje and we are forging ahead because we need to make some changes”.

    On PDP’s electoral fortunes in 2015, he said: “Well, when we get to 2015 God will determine that. We can’t be discussing 2015 now. We will discuss 2015 when we get to 2015″.

    On the decision of Rivers statutory delegates to boycott Saturday’s mini PDP Convention, Amaechi said: “You know, the chairman of the party and the members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly took that decision, I wasn’t around, so I wouldn’t know what to say about that, but the most important thing is that we are on course”.

    Amaechi also said he would not know the outcome of the meeting President Goodluck Jonathan had with some governors in Abuja since he was not at the meeting.

     

  • PDP splits as Atiku, others sack Tukur’s exco

    PDP splits as Atiku, others sack Tukur’s exco

    …Baraje emerges new PDP National Chairman

    Exactly 15 years after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was formed, it broke into two factions on Saturday  in Abuja.
    The spate of crises afflicting the party  since inception reached its peak when top leaders of the party walked out on President Goodluck Jonathan at the party’s Special  National Convention to form what has been christened New PDP.
    Those who left the convention venue to form a factional PDP were a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  seven governors, three ex-governors and scores of Senators and  members of the House of Representatives.
    The aggrieved leaders addressed a crowded press briefing at about 4pm at Shehu Musa Yar’Adua where  they sacked the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the party.
    A former acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje was appointed the new National Chairman of the party.
    The sacked National Secretary of PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was reinstated  as  the party’s scribe.
    Sam Jaja was also  returned as the Deputy National Chairman of the party.
    Other members of the new National Working Committee would be announced on Monday.
    Amidst backslapping and liberation songs, the PDP leaders said there was no going back in putting a new leadership in place for PDP.
    Those at the session were Atiku, Governors Sule Lamido; Rabiu Kwankwaso; Abdulafatai Ahmed; Babangida Aliyu; Aliyu Wammako; Murtala Nyako; and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
    Others were the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar  Shagari; the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Musa Ibeto; the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari; ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu ( who was a former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP); ex-Governor Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi; ex-Governor Olagunsoye
    Also in attendance were  some members of the National Assembly including the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibril, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Zakary; Hon. Dakuku Peterside; Senator Magnus Abe; and all statutory delegates and members of the National Assembly from the seven states.
    As the presence of each of the political heavyweights was announced, shouts of ”  Chanji  dole 2015″ ( Change in 2015 A Must) filled the hall.
    The confidence radiated by all the governors suggested that some notable leaders of the party were pulling the strings to effect change in PDP.
    In his speech,  Baraje, who was a former National Secretary of the party, said:”We address you today as leaders of PDP, who are worried by the increasing repression, restrictions of freedom of association, arbitrary suspension of members and other such violations of democratic principles by a faction of our party led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur .
    “While we have done everything humanly possible to bring to the attention of critical stakeholders within the party the dangers inherent in the course being charted by that leadership, it has become very clear that the desperate permutations towards 2015 general elections have blinded certain people from the consequences of their actions.
    “Not only has the constitution of the party been serially violated  by Alhaji Tukur and fellow travelers, all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though above the law. “Unfortunately, it is obvious that that they get encouragement from the presidency whose old calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.”