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Tag: Osita Okechukwu

  • VON DG: only Igbo can deny themselves presidency in 2023

    THE Southeast heard yesterday what it should do to have a shot at the Presidency in 2023 – support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Voice of Nigeria (VON) Director-General Osita Okechukwu said that only the Southeast people can deny the region of the presidency in 2023 if they vote against Buhari in the next year presidential election.

    He warned that the fruit of whatever they sow with their votes would be there for them to harvest in 2023, should they cast their ballot against Buhari.

    Okechuku, who was reacting to the statement  credited to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the effect that 2023 Igbo presidency quest is a plot to hoodwink the region, counselled the Igbo leadership to put its house in order and organise the region ahead of the 2023 presidency rather than agonise.

    He said: “May I once more appeal to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to start organising for Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction in 2023, instead of agonising. It is surreal for the truism is that equity, natural justice and good conscience is on our side.

    “All we need to do is for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership to think out of the box, reflect deeply, and dust off ancient stereotypes and prejudices by voting for President Buhari.

    “The real politics is that voting Buhari will better galvanise and strengthen our alliance with the North, more than voting for Atiku Abubakar. Buhari has a vote bank of 10-12 million voters, mostly his core followership reflected in his bids in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections.

    “Is it not disheartening for the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Prince Uche Achi-Okpagha to agonise thus?”

    He quoted the Ohanaze as saying: “Note that neither President Buhari, nor any Northern political stalwart has made a pronouncement on the 2023 presidency, instead they have allowed some cabinet members of Yorubas extraction, including Osinbajo and Fashola, to dissipate energy to the effect that Southwest would have presidency in 2023. It is an orchestrated plot to hoodwink the people of the two regions in order to elicit their votes.”

    Okechukwu reminded his kinsmen of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha’s statement that “the quickest and easiest means to the presidency for the Southeast is to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term”.

    He also reminded them that they “can short-circuit the period in terms of only having him there for another four years and whatever they do in 2019 will determine what will happen thereafter because politics is a game of numbers and it is like a cooperative society.”

    Okechukwu went on: “Whatever you bring as an investment when dividends are going to be shared, you will get proportionate with your investment and your investment in politics is what you bring to the table and I urge the Southeast to look at this matter seriously that every time we have a presidency in Nigeria, it is negotiated in several ways. Either negotiated by votes or what you bring to the table and you must negotiate from the position of strength.”

    Reminding them that the Southeast remained the only zone in the Southern Belt that has not presided over Nigeria from the Aso Villa since the rotation of the presidency between Northern and Southern Belts began in 1999, he said: “2023 is our turn, unless we wittingly or unwittingly throw it away.

    “Hence, it is my candid view that with such immeasurable equity, natural justice and good conscience on our side, 2023 president is Ndigbo’s turn; unless Ohanaeze continues to angonise instead of organising.

    “The present rotation convention, we mustn’t forget, was in the first place constructed to engender equity, peace and harmony of our dear nation. Let’s harvest it.

    “One therefore appeals to Ohanaeze leadership to place the core Igbo interest above partisanship and demagoguery; for the quickest and surest route to end the vexatious issue of marginalisation and create a sense of belonging is 2023 president of Igbo extraction.”

  • 2019 senate: APC Enugu youths bid Ekweremadu farewell

    Back Okechukwu for Senate

     

    The APC Youth Circle (APCYC) Enugu West Senatorial District has wished the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, a successful retirement from the Senate.

    This was contained in a statement released in Enugu on Thursday by the General Coordinator, APCYC, Enugu West senatorial district, Comrade Geofrey Eze.

    In the statement, Eze announced that APCYC was rooting for the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu who recently declared his intention to retire Ekweremadu from Senate.‎

    Eze assured that Okechukwu with his antecedents would give selfless service to the people of Enugu West and unite the zone, which “has been divided by Ekweremadu’s divide and rule tactics.”

    He said Okechukwu would revamp the abundant coal deposits in Enugu State to ensure the creation of employment for thousands of youths in Enugu West.

    He equally assured that “Osita Okechukwu, a Buharist, no doubt as a senator would easily key into President Buhari’s RRAP Projects – Roads, Rails and Agriculture – geared towards reinvigorating the economy of the country and generating employment.”

    His statement titled “Why Mr. Osita Okechukwu wants to retire Senator Ekweremadu,” read in part: “All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Circle, without being immodest wishes to state clearly why APC presumptive consensus senatorial candidate, Mr Osita Okechukwu wants to retire Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President from the senate.

    “Mr Osita Okechukwu with his antecedents will give selfless service to the good people of Enugu West Senatorial District. He will unite the zone which has been divided by Senator Ekweremadu’s divide and rule tactics. The appointments Okechukwu influenced so far in the district went to Awgu – Mr. Titus Okolo, Commissioner ICPC, Oji River – Polycap Udah – member Board Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Udenu, Major General Chris Eze – Ambasador to India, Igboeze North, Barister Bath Ugwoke – Member Board of Voice of Nigeria, Isiuzo-Hon. Ejike Eze, Member National Population Commission and Nkanu West – Nonye Okoro, Board Member, Federal Medical Centre.

    Read Also: Pro-Biafra agitators arrested in Enugu

    “Mr. Okechukwu will revamp Enugu Coal to be used to generate electricity and provide employment to thousands of youths. Distinguished Senator Ekweremadu never mentioned the huge coal deposit in the district in his 16 years sojourn. Okechukwu has been on this mission and it is elementary knowledge that he will facilitate the revamping of the coal deposits in Inyi, Amansiodo, Onyeama and Okpara mines, better as a senator.

    “Mr Okechukwu as a Buharists no doubt as a senator will easily hook up with President Buhari’s RRAP Projects – Roads, Rails and Agriculture – to facilitate the Eastern Corridor Railways, which will cover the Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Owerri, Abakaliki, Awka, Makurdi, Lafia,  Akwanga, Jos, Damaturu, and Maiduguri.

    Eze noted that Okechukwu had already initiated integrated cassava farm at Olo in Ezeagu and integrated rice farm at Aniri local government rice belt, hence hooking up to Buhari’s RRAP.

    “It is elementary knowledge that he (Okechukwu) will facilitate the integrated farms better as a senator, rather than buying Okada motorcycles for our youths.

    “In sum, we thank Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu and wish a successful retirement from the senate. Enough is Enough!” Eze said.

  • VON DG: Okorocha free to leave APC

    Following the conclusion of ward, local and state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo, Osita Okechukwu, Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a chieftain of the party has advised Gov. Rochas Okorocha to leave the party if he so desires.

    Okechukwu spoke on the heels of Gov. Okorocha’s disagreement with the outcome of the congresses held in Imo last month.

    He told newsmen at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday that the APC would win the 2019 elections without Okorocha.

    According to him, the actions and inactions of Okorocha have caused the APC more setbacks in the last four years in Imo and the South-East in general.

    He said recent development that made the governor to lose at the party´s just concluded congresses was a grand plan to reposition APC toward winning elections in the South-East.

    “At least there are more than 60 political parties now. Okorocha is free to join any one of his choice, though, we are not forcing him to leave.

    “What we are saying is that we have taken the leadership out of his hands because he is playing God; so, what I am saying is that he is at liberty to leave APC.

    “But let nobody anywhere think that the APC will lose because we have retrieved the party from him. Mr president is going to get more votes, we are going to win more parliamentary seats, more governorship seats without him,” he said.

    He noted that over 90 per cent of the leadership and membership of the APC in the South-East were against Okorocha and his style of governance.

    However, Dr Toe Ekechi, Convener of APC Restoration Coalition in Imo, said they would rather prefer that Okorocha remain in the party than leave.

    “Rochas Okorocha is the governor of Imo, I think there is joy in heaven when one’ s lost sheep is found.

    “We will be most joyous to see our governor Rochas Owelle Okorocha come back to the fold and work with us as a family to ensure the success of APC in 2019.

    “That is not taking away the fact that he has the right to make political decisions that suits him, but in terms of what we want, we wish that we work with him.

    “I will not want it to degenerate to that extent,  not necessarily in the interest of the party but in his own interest and I think he is a smart governor and won’t want to contemplate leaving APC,” he said.

    He expressed confidence that even if the governor decided to leave the party, the coalition was prepared to sustain the APC in Imo.

  • I have nothing against Catholic Church – Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, said on Wednesday he has done nothing to pitch the Catholic Church against the All Progressives Congress (APC) as alleged by the  Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu.

    The governor insisted that he has instead shown amazing love and unbridled respect for the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna and “has no problem of any kind with the Catholic Church.”

    He also made a donation of N100 million for the completion of the Okigwe Catholic Diocese Cathedral.

    Okechukwu had accused Okorocha of pitting the Catholic Church against the APC apparently over the governor’s statement that the Archibishop of Owerri cannot install a governor of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) extraction in 2019.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said in a statement made available to journalists that “the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, had accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of pitting the Catholic Church against APC without explaining how he arrived at such claim.

    “Mr. Okechukwu is one of those who have the erroneous feeling that the only way they can grow in APC is by attacking or pulling down Governor Rochas Okorocha and he has been doing it religiously without any response from us.

    “Governor Okorocha has shown amazing love and unbridled respect to Archbishop Obinna and has no problem of any kind with the Catholic Church. And what Governor Okorocha has done for the Catholic Diocese of Owerri, no past governor whether civilian or military had done it for them. Let anybody say it is not true. And if Mr. Okechukwu had participated or followed events in the 2015 election he would have understood better.

    “Don’t forget that President Muhammadu Buhari got only 14,157 votes in Enugu State where the DG comes from, and got 133,253 in Imo not minding that Imo was the target of the PDP-led Federal Government’s onslaught in the 2015 election with thousands of soldiers and other security agencies besieging the state.

    “If the governor didn’t mean well, he would not have taken President Buhari to the Archbishop. But two days after that visit, the Leader Newspaper owned by the Archbishop had a banner headline, Alhaji in Government House. The name Okoro-Hausa also came from the same source.

    “And if the campaign of the PDP and a section of the Church that Buhari and Rochas would Islamize the South-East if APC wins didn’t get to Enugu State it means the presence of the party in the state was never considered a threat. But in Imo, that was the major campaign. Mr. Okechukwu won’t understand because he was contended with his much talked about relationship with the President.”

     

  • NNPC: Buhari will not allow anyone to dent his image- DG VON

    NNPC: Buhari will not allow anyone to dent his image- DG VON

    The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu has reassured Nigerians that President Muhammabu Buhari would do the needful and not disappoint on the allegations against the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Okechukwu spoke against the backdrop of the feud between Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru.

    Kachikwu  had written to the President, complaining about Baru’s excesses including alleged award of contracts worth over 25 billion dollars without due process and approval of NNPC Board which he (Kachikwu) heads.

    Fielding questions from reporters in Enugu over the weekend, Okechukwu said: “President Buhari will do the needful and will not allow anyone to dent his image or tarnish his integrity quotient, if the allegations are valid. This is his political capital upon which we followed him, upon which Nigerians voted for him and upon which the international community endorsed him”

    The VON DG equally noted that Buhari’s urgent meeting with Kachikwu has vindicated some of them who believed abinitio that the Minister’s letter did not get to the President,

    “As I said before, I have not seen nor heard from Mr President since the altercation, am at Enugu as you know, but permit me to opine from my observation that the meeting President Buhari had with Kachikwu vindicated some of us who had expressed the candid view that it is possible that those who blocked Kachikwu from seeing Mr President might had blocked the letter from getting to him. Otherwise the urgent verification meeting he had with Kachikwu signposts this assumption. Aso Villa has unresolved culture of mix-bag.”

    Okechukwu said that for the much he knew of President Buhari, he had always placed public interest above self and cannot allow his political capital of integrity quotient to be extinguished by anyone, even his traducers can attest to his selflessness.

    He attributed the unfolding events to “the palace guards, in every palace, who sometimes in this instance, work 100 degrees at variance with Buhari’s public service trajectory. They wittingly or unwittingly fail to recognize the treasury and premium Buhari places on the Social Contract he has with Nigerians to make a change.”

  • DG VON commends Buhari’s pro-people governance

    DG VON commends Buhari’s pro-people governance

    Chief Osita Okechukwu, the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria ( VON ) and a stalwart of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s  pro-people style of governance.

    Okechukwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday, that the president’s Independence anniversary address was a grand statement.

    He said it was to reiterate APC’s commitment toward repositioning the country for socio-political and economic growth.

    The DG noted that the President, in the last two years, had concentrated in ensuring that workers and pensioners in the country were well catered for at every level of governance.

    Okechukwu also said that the President had evolved a bottom-up approach to governance, describing it as people-centered and welfarist in nature.

    He said that it was heartwarming that Mr President had assured Nigerians of much better and progressive days ahead as his administration entered the second half in office.

    “Mr President, within the last two years, released additional support of N1.64 trillion to states and local governments as part of measures to stabilise the polity.

    “This was used in paying salaries owed workers for over 12 months and accrued unpaid pensions for many years.

    “Mr President could have used the said money to build over 1,000 kilometres of asphalted roads which would be highly visible to all.

    ‘’But he decided to use it to uplift the plight of workers at rural areas, who owe school fees, house rent, electricity and food stuff bills.

    “This shows a fatherly heart; people-centered thinking and programme of President Buhari meant to touch the lives and livelihood of millions of Nigerian workers and families, notwithstanding the level of government,’’ he said.

    He also commended the Federal Government’s N500 billion Special Intervention Programmes.

    Okechukwu said the programmes via Home-Grown School Feeding; N-Power; Conditional Cash Transfer; Family Homes Fund; Social Housing Scheme and providing loans to traders and artisans were designed to up-lift poor Nigerians from poverty.

    He, however, called on state governments and generality of Nigerians to take advantage of the current Federal Government-led revolution in agriculture to be empowered and engaged.

    “Agriculture is making the anticipated impact in the economy and lives of those that had shown interest in the Federal Government’s agricultural programmes.

    “I will like all states in the country, especially the states within the South-East, to use the agro-allied opportunities and loan schemes judiciously to create jobs for the youth and check unemployment in the zone.’’

  • Osita Okechukwu slams Clark over ultimatum to Fed Govt

    Osita Okechukwu slams Clark over ultimatum to Fed Govt

    VOICE of Nigeria (VON) Director-General Osita Okechukwu has criticised Ijaw national leader Chief Edwin Clark over the ultimatum given to the Federal Government to constitute a negotiation team on Niger Delta’s demands.

    Okechukwu, in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Abuja, said rather than engaging in propaganda, Clark should support President Muhammadu Bahari’s administration to develop the country.

    Clark, at a news conference recently, asked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a negotiation team to engage in talks with the Niger Delta stakeholders before August 1.

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) leader had warned that youths of the region were becoming impatient over delay in the talks and would return to hostility after the date.

    But, Okechukwu advised Clark to ask senators from Niger Delta what was delaying the signing of the loan to start projects in the region as promised by the Federal Government.

    He added that the Buhari government was working to ensure the delivery of true democratic dividends to Nigerians.

    Okechukwu said Nigerians had the right to vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in 2019, if they were not satisfied with its performance.

    “We were given a four-year tenure to start with, and if it suits the Nigerian people, they will re-elect the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari again or any other candidate in the APC.

    “I was not very impressed with Chief Clark, a man I have respect for, because he is sounding as if everybody is opposed to devolution of power,” he said.

    Okechukwu noted that Clark during the PDP administration had the opportunity to better the lots of the people of Niger Delta, but never did.

    He said the elder statesman rather “started building a private university, married a new wife and was enjoying himself without showing seriousness in matters affecting the region and its people”

    He maintained that Buhari’s administration, though inherited almost a failed state, determined to first restructure the country´s sub-structure.

    According to him, most states’ governments owed salaries and pension arrears for 18 months when the administration came in.

    The VON director-general said the Buhari administration had within two years of its tenure, spent about N1trillion in bail-out funds to address issues of salary arrears in states.

    He added that the administration through a 500 million dollars foreign loan, rehabilitated roads in the Niger Delta which Clark never remembered to fix.

    “Clark was there on May 13, 2010 in President Jonathan’s regime when the Minister of Finance and Economy Co-ordinator, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told Nigerians that they had awarded $23 billion for three refineries.

    “The refineries were to be in Bayelsa, Lagos and in Kogi states; we didn’t see the $23 billion and we didn’t see the refineries,” Okechukwu stated.

    He said Clark should be asked where the three refineries were and why the East-West road was not completed and the coast line not done as promised by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government.

    On agitation for the country’s restructuring, Okechukwu said: “We are all committed to restructuring the country, but we are saying we are starting with the restructuring of the sub-structures.

    “The APC has also set up different committees to look at this restructuring issue; it is not that we are running away from it, so let no one pull the roof down with propaganda,” he said.

    According to him, the PDP, which was in power for 16 years, never sincerely advocated for restructuring.

    He, therefore, stressed that Clark and other statesmen and Nigerians should continue to support Buhari for the solid foundation he was laying to return Nigeria to prosperity.

  • New appointments vindicate Buhari – APC

    New appointments vindicate Buhari – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East geopolitical zone said on Friday that recent appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari is a clear demonstration that the President bears no grudge against any section of the country.

    In a statement issued by its Zonal Spokesman, Osita Okechukwu and made available to journalists in Abuja, the party said the appointment of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Engr. Dennis Ajulu as Group Managing Director and Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) respectively vindicated his earlier position that every region of the country under his watch would receive equal and fair treatment.

    He also applauded the enlistment of Enugu Airport among the airports to be upgraded, describing it as a clear indication and demonstration that Mr. President bears no grudge against Ndigbo for not voting for him.

    He recalled that South-East APC had earlier assured the Igbos that President Buhari will not marginalize them for not voting for him and therefore urged Ndigbo to disregard gossip-terrorists and ethnic merchants peddling falsehood that President Buhari hates the Ndigbo.

    “Since I cannot assume to know all the pressing issues facing Ndigbo or what Ndigbo expect of the new Nigeria we wish to build, I would greatly appreciate if you could kindly arrange a consultative meeting with Ohaneze Ndigbo where we could discuss and try to determine how this could best be done.

    “I considered it pertinent to hold consultations with all communities nationwide in order to build a mutually acceptable national consensus. Needless to add, no national consultation will be complete or meaningful without a meeting with the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo.”

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  •  Igbo President an illusion under PDP, says APC

     Igbo President an illusion under PDP, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday declared that a President of Igbo extraction under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not possible.

    Spokesman of the APC in South-East, Osita Okechukwu, stated this shortly after he voted at the ward congress of the party in Central School, Ekeh, Enugu State.

    The warning came amidst the conclusion of plans by South-East Governors Forum to hold a grand rally in Enugu next weekend to drum up support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

    Okechukwu called on Ndigbo to shine their eyes and join the progressive train to fix Nigeria and save the country from disintegration under the PDP- led Federal Government.

    He said: “APC’s victory in 2015 presidential election is certain for the election is a referendum on President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime, a regime which metaphor is corruption and poor performance.

    “And it will be painful if the hard -working Igbo people are not part of this historic victory. Ndigbo should not blame any group for marginalisation.

    “As our people say, Ndigbo should count the payback vis-a vis the unalloyed support they gave the corrupt and inept leadership of President Jonathan and the PDP as a party in the last decade”.

    He went on: “Is it the political motivated ground breaking 2nd Niger Bridge fanfare that is not in any federal budget or the make believe Enugu International Airport? Can we in all honesty trust a president who cannot complete his own road – the East-West Road in the last four years?

    “Is charity not supposed to start at home? We cannot be deceived twice”.

    Saying that it was still early for Ndigbo to join the moving progressive train, The APC spokesman warned that voting for Jonathan would be akin to “selling our birthright for mess of porridge”.

    He maintained that under PDP, a president of Igbo extraction cannot materialise before 2027 while voting for APC would guarantee Ndigbo president on or before 2023.

  • Presidency under attack over shooting of senator

    Presidency under attack over shooting of senator

    Youths protest

    Senate calls for probe

    Tinubu, David-West, CNPP, MOSOP, others condemn police action

    There was outrage across the country yesterday over Sunday’s shooting of Senator Magnus Abe in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by policemen.

    The popular thinking was that Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu would not have ordered his men to visit violence on innocent citizens without the backing of the Presidency.

    Mbu said he ordered his men to smash a rally by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) – a non-governmental body with affiliation to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Tear gas canisters and rubber bullets were fired. Amaechi’s Chief of Staff Tony Okocha was hit in the leg. Abe was hit in the chest. He is believed to be receiving treatment in France, contrary to reports yesterday that he had been moved to Britain.

    The Senate called for a probe.

    Abe’s Ogoni kinsmen seized the East-West road in protest.

    APC leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prof. Tam David-West, a Rivers indigene, and the conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) condemned the police action.

    There was no word from the police headquarters in Abuja.

    The leadership of the Senate condemned in “strong terms” Abe’s shooting by the police.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate “deplored the escalating political violence in Rivers State”. It urged Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to probe the incident and ensure that it does not recur.

    The statement warned politicians to avoid overheating the polity and derailing the nation’s democracy.

    “The Senate particularly condemns the Sunday violence which resulted to injuries on a serving senator, Magnus Abe,” Abaribe stated.

    Abaribe said the “Senate is disturbed that what should have been a peaceful gathering turned violent, resulting in injuries”.

    He added: “On this score, the Senate associates itself with the admonition of President Goodluck Jonathan on his pronouncement to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, wherein he warned that no Nigerian blood is worth spilling in the name of politics.

    “Consequently, the Senate urges the Inspector General of Police to investigate the latest incident and ensure that it never reoccurs.

    “In the same vein, the Senate advises politicians and their supporters to exercise greater restraint and avoid acts that will not only overheat the system but may harm the country’s democracy.”

    Prof. David-West, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, expressed serious worry over the worsening political climate in Rivers State.

    The university don, who condemned the shooting, likened the political situation in the state to that of the Western Region in the First Republic which, he said, contributed to the outbreak of the civil war.

    David-West described Abe as a complete gentleman who does not deserve the treatment he got from the police.

    The former minister described the attack as “the lowest depth of indecency”.

    He said: “To attack somebody like that because of politics is the lowest depth of indecency. I am very ashamed as a Rivers man that all these are happening in my state. It is a great disservice to President Jonathan. Police are acting with impunity because they know they enjoy protection from the Presidency and the Inspector General of Police.

    “President Jonathan should remember what happened in the Western Region, which ultimately contributed to the civil war. Anybody who sits in Abuja and is happy should have a rethink. It is not good for the state. It is not good for the country. I am very worried. With what is happening, I see a very dark cloud stretching from the Niger Delta waters to the sands of the Sahara desert. The dark cloud could consume all of us if they do not stop.

    “If it does not stop, 2015 will be in jeopardy. We have never had politics this bad in Nigeria. There is politics of bitterness, ethnic problems and so.

    “Senator Abe is a very gentle man. He belongs to an ethnic group. By doing this, police and their backers are stoking the fire of trouble. They should stop,” he said.

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) promised to hold President Goodluck Jonathan responsible for the crisis in Rivers – if he does not intervene.

    The umbrella body of opposition parties was angry over the shooting of Abe and others: “in the presence of CP Mbu at a peaceful rally organised by the All Progressives Congress affiliate, Save Rivers Movement in Rivers State.”

    Jonathan, CNPP said, should as a matter of urgency order the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to transfer Mbu out of Rivers.

    A statement in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, said: “Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) calls on President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgent national importance to save our democracy by nipping in the bud the gathering storm in Rivers State. The first step is to post out of Rivers State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu, before it is too late.

    “For us, this is against police professional ethics and best practices, which means that CP Mbu had taken side, and, unfortunately, descended partially into the political arena; thereby breaching the law and enforcing a non-existing Police Permit Order.

    “CNPP wishes to remind the Nigeria Police Force that the Police Permit Order had been repealed by the Appeal Court, as an obnoxious colonial order, following a suit filed by the CNPP.

    “Accordingly, groups, associations and political parties are under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guaranteed freedom of association and assemblage; hence the duty of the police is to protect all and not to side any group.

    “We challenge President Jonathan to direct the Inspector General of the Police to post CP Joseph Mbu out of Rivers State; failing which we shall hold Mr President responsible for the do-or-die politics unfolding in Rivers State.”