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Tag: Rivers PDP

  • Rivers PDP backs Wike

    Rivers PDP backs Wike

    The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged its 16 governorship aspirants to seek the people’s support for their ambition instead of calling for the disqualification of fellow aspirant and former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike.

    The party’s leadership in the state, under Felix Obuah, said Wike wanted other aspirants to go to the grassroots for support.

    In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Jerry Needam, the chairman said the PDP was disturbed by the calls among the 16 governorship aspirants demanding for Wike’s disqualification.

    The statement said: “We advise the 16 governorship aspirants and leaders of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, seeking the disqualification of …Wike to go and make themselves popular.

    “The party is of the view that rather than expend their energy and money on raising dust and causing divisions in the party, the 16 aspirants should divorce unpopular aspirations into building the party and reclaiming the lost mandate.

    “It is unarguably true that heeding the yearnings of those seeking the disqualification of Wike from contesting the governorship election will bring doom to the party as they have proved that they do not have the capacity to deliver the party in the state for Mr. President.”

  • Rivers PDP secretariat set ablaze

    THE crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a turn for the worse yesterday, as unknown men set ablaze the state secretariat of the party along the ever-busy Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. The two security men on duty at the time of the attack were said to have narrowly escaped with their lives.

    The incident occurred barely 24 hours after seventeen governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP and other officers of the Rivers Mainstream Coalition, led by Prof. Israel Owate, held a unity rally at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, and insisted that there must be zoning, especially for the governorship, to ensure peace, justice, equity and fairness.

    The 17 aspirants and leaders of the coalition kicked against the alleged attempt to impose the immediate past Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the governorship candidate of the party, particularly him being Ikwerre as Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The anti-Wike PDP chieftain also condemned the decision of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party, led by Chief Felix Obuah, for declaring that there would be no zoning of political offices, which they said was not in line with the constitution of the party. Obuah, who is the state chairman of the PDP, said, in a telephone conversation, that desperate politicians who did not want the ward and local government congresses of the party to hold today were responsible for the fire, declaring that the congresses would go on as planned.

    While speaking with The Nation, security men on duty at the secretariat, who pleaded anonymity, said the secretariat was attacked by four young men at about 4:30 am. They said the young men came with a four-litre keg filled with petrol, adding that their effort to stop the men from carrying out the dastardly act failed.

    According to one of the security men, one of the four suspected arsonists rushed to the main entrance of the party secretariat and poured fuel on the building and set it ablaze. The security personnel said they raised the alarm over the fire, while the four suspected arsonists melted into the darkness. He said neighbours assisted to put out the fire before the arrival of fire fighters from the Rivers State Fire Service. Reacting to the fire, the Rivers PDP chairman said:

    “It is the action of desperate politicians, who want to create a scene so that the ward and local government congresses will be postponed. No matter the desperation of these politicians, we will go ahead with the congresses.” He also called on the people of the state, especially members of the PDP, to give peace a chance and to avoid politics with bitterness.

    The Rivers Police Commissioner, Dan Bature, who confirmed the fire, visited scene. He condemned the incident and ordered that security be beefed up in the area to prevent a reoccurrence. Speaking on the crisis, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the part, Nimi Walson-Jack, Walson-Jack, pleaded with the national leadership of the PDP to postpone the ward congress of the party in the state until the complaints and grievances of some members of the party were addressed

  • Rain of blows at Rivers PDP parley in Abuja

    Rain of blows at Rivers PDP parley in Abuja

    IT was meant to lead the way to peace in its Rivers State chapter, but yesterday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meeting in Abuja was nothing but a war.

    Cudgels landed on heads and blows hit many on their faces.

    A man was soaked in his blood after he was hit on the face by the boot of a policeman’s gun. Another got thrown out of the venue to nurse his wounds.

    It all happened at Legacy House, the Abuja presidential campaign office of the PDP. In the fray was Minister of State for Education Mr. Nyesom Wike, who reportedly rained punches on a political opponent, Mr. Lolo Ibienye, a former Commissioner for Water Resources in Rivers State. Ibienye was trying to defend a petition he submitted to the PDP Integration Panel hearing complaints from aggrieved party members from the South-south zone.

    Ibienye coordinated the Yar’Adua/Jonathan campaign organisation in Rivers State during the 2007 election.

    Wike however, denied any link with the rampaging thugs. In a telephone conversation with one of our correspondents hours after the incident, the Minister denied beating anybody at the venue.

    He said: “Nobody attacked anybody. The meeting was peaceful. Anybody who had something to present was allowed to make their presentation. How could I have prevented them from presenting their memorsanda. They said I beat somebody? How can I do that?”

    Speaking with reporters shortly after his ordeal, Ibienyen said: “The Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike, brought people to stop petitioners from going to defend their petitions.

    “Only a few people were allowed into the hall. Twenty-two petitions were received from Rivers State and only four out of the 22 persons who petitioned were allowed to defend their petitions.

    “Professor Israel Owate presented his own. Chief Paworiso Samuel Horsefall presented his own report. Barrister Alalivo Frederick and Elechukwu Ogbowu presented their own.

    “In an attempt to stop the molestation and harassment of party stakeholders from entering the hall to defend their petitions, Wike physically shoved me and rained punches on me.

    “The molestation of stakeholders and reporters should not have happened; it is not necessary at all. If it happened in Abuja with just a few of us in attendance, what would have happened if the meeting had taken place in Rivers State?

    “The national leadership of the party must know that all is not well with Rivers PDP. It is a clear indication that PDP in the state is sitting on a keg of gun powder, waiting to explode.”

    Many others who attempted to enter the hall where the Prof. Iya Abubakar-led panel was sitting were beaten with cudgels, sticks and bottles.

    One of them, a lawyer who gave his name as Tamuno Dick, got a deep cut on his face from the boot of a policeman’s gun.

    Dick, who claimed to be the legal adviser of the Network for the Defence of Democracy and Good Governance, a rival group to Wike’s GDI, was soaked in blood, as the white handkerchief he used as compress could not stop the bleeding.

    Another chieftain of the party, Chief Anamsara Igbe, was also manhandled.

    He told reporters that he was robbed of N50, 000 cash and that the documents he brought to back his petition were taken away from him by thugs.

    Igbe said: “I was robbed. They collected my documents from me in the hall. They took the party constitution, the memorandum I submitted and the money from me.

    “They robbed me and took all the money. If that is what is called reconciliation, I don’t see how that can be reconciliation. Rivers State is a delicate state. The same Wike himself is tearing PDP apart.

    “And if that continues, PDP will fail. Mr President should listen to us or he will fail in Rivers State. Politics is a game of interest. Our interest is that governorship must rotate in Rivers State”.

    Another party chieftain, Dr. Innocent Ekwu, who also had a brush with the thugs, gave an account of the encounter:

    “I arrived with my delegates only to meet thugs at the entrance of the hall, beating up other governorship aspirants, beating up other leaders of the party who are not members of Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI).

    “In my presence, Professor Owate was beaten and thrown out of the entrance. Lolo Ibieyen was also beaten up by the Honourable Minister of Education.

    “I saw it with my two eyes. I was shocked to witness this type of tyranny, misconduct in the open glare before a multitude. And the worst is that the security men who were there stood aloof and could not call them to order.

  • 2015: Rivers PDP will not give ticket to criminals

    2015: Rivers PDP will not give ticket to criminals

    THE Rivers State chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has said the party will not will not identify with criminals who are desperate to get party ticket. A chieftain of the party, Chief Captain Sunday Nwankwo, who is also a governorship aspirant, spoke yesterday while addressing a crowd of youths who joined his campaign train in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

    The measure, he said is the only way to deny them access to the state’s wealth and to give way for serious-minded politicians whose interest is for economic and political development of the state.

    Chief Nwankwo, an oil and gas expert, said most of those jostling for PDP ticket in the state are only interested in what they will gain and not for the general interest of the people of the state.

    He noted that he joined the race to economically develop the state, create job and to ensure that experts take over oil and gas in the state. “If the wrong people are allowed to take the PDP ticket and they eventually win, the people will suffer; the wealth of the people will be looted. They have nothing to offer, that is why we are doing our best to ensure that the party does not make a costly mistake.

  • Rivers PDP without Amaechi

    Rivers PDP without Amaechi

    It was a party of political associates and age-long allies. As far back as 1999, most of them have been together under the same umbrella; the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    But today, that fraternity is no more as the Rivers State chapter of the PDP is fractured and dying while stakeholders seem not to know what to do to correct or stop the now imminent collapse of the big family umbrella that has provided political shelter for the now warring members for over a dozen years.

    As we speak, the party is most likely to see the exit of its most illustrious member in the state, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, from its fold. Already, the governor has been formally approached by the fast moving All Progressive Congress (APC) to dump the PDP and come aboard its train.

    Aside that, the “New PDP”, the faction of the party to which the governor belongs, has come under heavy bashing from the mainstream PDP in recent times. During the week, leaders of the Kawu Baraje-led faction were suspended from the party in spite of a court order that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola should be re-instated by the party as its National Secretary.

    Reprieve came for the former Osun State governor last Wednesday as the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, set aside the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division that ousted him from office as the National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed the case filed at the High Court and upon which the trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, removed Oyinlola from office.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Justice T. J. Tur held that Oyinlola’s right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution was breached by Justice Kafarati. The appellate court also held that three separate cases, seeking the same reliefs, were filed against Oyinlola and such multiplicity of action amounted to an abuse of court process.

    The appellate court said all the prevailing circumstances of the case at the High Court were enough reason for the case to have been dismissed ab initio. It invoked its power under Section 16 of the Court of Appeal Act and heard the case as if it were the trial court.

    But five days after he was reinstated, the national leadership of PDP suspended him from the party. He was suspended alongside three others – the National Chairman of the splinter PDP, Kawu Baraje, his deputy, Sam Sam Jaja and a former senator from Jigawa State, Ibrahim Kazaure.

    In a related development, not too long ago, a bid by members of the governor’s group to reclaim control of the crisis-ridden River State chapter of the PDP was truncated. This was as the sacked chairman of the state chapter and a loyalist of Amaechi’s, Chief Godspower Ake, lost an appeal to reclaim his office.

    An Abuja High Court, had on April 15, 2013 declared Chief Obuah Amechi Felix and Walter Ibibia Opuene supported by Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, as validly nominated and elected chairman and secretary respectively and sacked the Ake-led committee from office.

    Ake approached the appellate court seeking to stay the execution of the judgment which sacked him and other members of his committee from office. But the court declined to grant Ake’s prayers.

    Political observers say Ake’s loss and the recent suspension of Oyinlola and others, which is believed to be a move to stop the former governor from resuming as National Secretary as ordered by the Court of Appeal, has put paid to all reconciliation moves within the PDP and as such, left the door open for Ameachi and others to dump the party.

    Should Amaechi eventually leave the party and team up with another political organisation, the effect of his exit, analysts say, will leave the ruling party without most of its leading figures in the state.

    It is now a certainty that should he move out of the PDP, Amaechi will be leaving the party with his entire team in the executive arm of government. His deputy, Tele Ikuru, in spite of juicy overtures from the opposing camp, had refused to be swayed against his boss.

    George Feyii, Secretary to the State Government, Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to the governor and all the commissioners, according to insiders’ report, are set to move along with the governor whenever he decides he has had enough of the bullying in his current party.

    “It is something everybody agrees to. It is something we are all willing to be part of. For us, Amaechi is the party. If he remains in PDP, we will remain here with him. If he moves out, we are all going with him,” a member of the State Executive Council (SEC) told The Nation during the week.

    Already some of his cabinet members like Ibim Semenitari (Information), Wogu Boms (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Emmanuel Chinda, Okey Amadi Samuel Eyibe, Patricia Simon-Hart, Ezemonye Amadi and Charles Okoye, have all publicly declared their intention to follow Amaechi anywhere he goes.

    Leading PDP chieftains, including Sam Sam Jaja, immediate past National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, Administrator of the new Greater Port Harcourt City Authority (GPHCA), are among numerous party leaders rearing to follow the governor out of the party.

    Majority of the members of the state’s delegation to the National Assembly, led by Senators Magnus Abe, (Rivers South-East) and Wilson Ake (Rivers West) are also said to be with the governor in the plot to dump the ruling party.

    Hon. Asita O. Asita, leader of the Rivers State caucus in the lower House, Hon. Sokonte Davies, representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency; Hon Betty Apiafi representing Abua/Ahoada-East Federal Constituency; Chief Andrew Uchendu, representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, and Hon. Dakuku Peterside, representing Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency are all sure bets to follow Amaechi on his way out of the PDP.

    Others were Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency; Hon. Pronem Morris, representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency; Hon. Blessing Nsiegbe, representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency II; Hon. Ken Chikere, representing Port Harcourt City Federal Constituency I; Hon. Gogo Bright, representing Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency; Hon. Dawari George, representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency and Hon Barry Mpigi, representing Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.

    It will be recalled that majority of the above federal lawmakers were commissioners in the administration of Amaechi, particularly in his first tenure. They got to their political height through the influence of the governor. This therefore presupposes that their show of solidarity on Monday was to demonstrate their loyalty.

    The PDP in Rivers State will also lose its leadership of the House of Assembly as twenty seven, out of the thirty two lawmakers in the state legislature are with the governor. Only five of the lawmakers are likely to resist the journey out of the ruling party should Amaechi decide to leave.

    Chairmen of all 23 local governments in the state and all the party’s former chairmen in the local government areas, instituted by the deposed Wilson Ake-led state executive of the party, are also likely to follow Amaechi and his men out of the party.

    Others, who have expressed their willingness to remain with their embattled leader all the way, include Gogo Charles, Nabbs Imegwu, Austin Wokocha and Fred Igwe. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, a former publicity secretary of the party.

    “It will indeed be an exodus of nearly the entire leadership of our party in the state. The people who are today the faces of the party by virtue of the positions they occupy will be seen leaving the party in droves,” a chieftain of the party lamented.

    But that is not to say there will be no known name staying back in the PDP should Amaechi leave. For one, the Minister of State for Education, Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike will remain in the party to emerge the new leader of PDP in the state unchallenged.

    Wike, who was council chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area for two tenures from 1999 to 2007, is now leading the opposition against his erstwhile political ally, Amaechi.

    He was also Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. After the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike was appointed Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Education.

    Senator George Thompson Sekibo, representing Rivers East is another person who will not follow Amaechi out of PDP. The former Organising Secretary of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) is not an ally of the governor, politically.

    There are also PDP chieftains like the self-acclaimed bulldozer of Rivers State politics, Chief Sergeant Awuse, and former Ikwerre council chairman, Boniface Emerengwa, who are expected to stay put in the party irrespective of the choice made by the governor.

    Also, the group of five House of Assembly members opposed to Governor Amaechi, namely Hon. Micheal Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpo Constituency 1, Hon. Michael Chinda, representing Obio/Akpo Constituency 11, Hon. Evans Bipi of Ogu/Bolo Constituency, Hon. Kelechi Wogu of Omuma Constituency and Hon. Victor Ihunwo of Port Harcourt Constituency 111, will not leave the PDP.

    If the governor finally dumps PDP with the known and yet- to- be revealed loyalists, it remains to be seen how the ruling party will fare in the state.

  • Rivers PDP rallies support for Jonathan, Tukur

    Rivers PDP rallies support for Jonathan, Tukur

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers on Friday urged the people of the state to continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan and its national Chairman, Alhaji Bamangar Tukur.

    The party’s Secretary in Rivers, Mr. Walter Ibinbia, told journalists in Port Harcourt that Jonathan and Tukur had given the party good leadership.

    Ibinbia described as illegal and a breach of the PDP constitution the attempt to open a parallel secretariat of the party in the state.

    ‘’Factional PDP is an illegality and such must not be accepted.

    ” We call on the security agencies to rise in defence of the law.

    ‘’It is also a slight on the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan who is the constitutional leader of the PDP,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Ibinbia as saying to journalists.

    According to him, the action is provocative, untimely and designed to cause disaffection among members of the party.

    ” PDP, as a law-abiding party, could not fold its hands and watch events derail from the path of decorum,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Rivers PDP crises regrettable- Jonathan

    Rivers PDP crises regrettable- Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday expressed worries about the recent political developments in Rivers State as he called on all those involved in regrettable acts of political violence to show greater respect for the constitution and the rule of law.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and all other political gladiators in the state to put the interests of the state and the nation above their personal egos and ambitions that “seem to have gotten in the way of their expected commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance.”

    He called on all those who were remotely or directly involved in heightening political tension in Rivers State to put an immediate end to their actions, which he said, are capable of plunging the state into public disorder.

    To this end, he urged them to strive to settle their political differences without further recourse to barbaric acts of violence.

    The statement reads: “President Jonathan expects all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, irrespective of their current affiliations or loyalties, to comport themselves with greater restraint while efforts continue to resolve existing differences and restore internal harmony to the state branch of the party.

    “The Presidency has also noted with regret the continuing attempts by some individuals and groups to place responsibility for the unpleasant developments in Rivers State on President Jonathan.

    “We are constrained to state once again that there is absolutely no factual basis for suggestions that some of the politicians involved in the current dispute are acting at the behest of the President.”

    “President Jonathan certainly did not instigate the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly and as President of the nation, he will never support any actions that negate his avowed commitment to the rule of law. The President will also never violate his oath of office to always defend the Nigerian Constitution.”

  • Ex-Rivers PDP chair’s aide killed

    Ex-Rivers PDP chair’s aide killed

    THE alleged killing of Eric Ezenekwe, an aide to the sacked state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Godspower Ake, has introduced a dangerous twist into the crisis rocking the ruling party.

    Ezenekwe was allegedly killed by suspected assassins when he returned home at about 11pm on Tuesday.

    He was reportedly tortured by the yet-to-be-identified persons and later shot at his home in Erema, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.

    The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Angela Agabe, confirmed the incident saying the matter was still being investigated.

    Ezenekwe’s killing is attributed to the alleged withdrawal of police orderlies from top government officials and politicians.

    An in-law to the assassinated aide, Felix Akpa, said on the telephone: “Ezenekwe arrived home at 11pm last night (Tuesday) only to run into an ambush. The assassins pounced on him and pushed him into his bedroom, where they tied his hands; inflicted electric cable wounds on him and with machete cuts on his back and ended his life with three shots.

    “Ezenekwe was alone that night, because of the hospitalisation of his wife. His three children and a pastor living in his house were all out.

    “It was a man who had an appointment with Ezenekwe, for a trip to Port Harcourt on May 15 that found him in a pool of blood and raised the alarm.”

    Also yesterday, the Chief of Staff (CoS), Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, alleged a plot by those fighting Governor Rotimi Amaechi to set their own houses ablaze and turn around to blame it on the state government.

    He said the ploy was to pave the way for the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

    Okocha’s allegation came a day after the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree alerted of a looming anarchy in the state.

    In a telephone chat yesterday, Okocha also alleged that the anti-Amaechi politicians in the state have been moving their belongings out of their houses, preparatory to setting the houses of their perceived enemies ablaze.

    According to him, the plot was to create tension and to illegally remove the governor.

    Corroborating Okocha, a PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives from the state, Igo Aguma, said Amaechi was being fought over his plan to return as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and his position on the 2015 governorship race in the state.

    In a chat with reporters yesterday, Aguma, who is also an ex-Rivers Sports Commissioner, declared that the crisis involving Amaechi was “pure gang up” from Abuja.

    The forum of chairmen of the PDP in the 23 local government areas of the state, led by Daere Samuel-Horsfal, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, urged the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the party to desist from further tarnishing the good image of the party.

    The CoS said: “The information reaching us right now is to the effect that some enemies of Rivers State are planning so many things to cause tension in the state. We have it on good authority that so many of them are carting away properties from their respective homes and to set the buildings on fire and blame it on the Rivers State government.

    “These are antics geared towards creating some kind of problem in Rivers State. They have already boasted that they will ensure that there is a state of emergency in Rivers State. We need to let the people know that these are trumped up by the enemies of the state to destabilise the state government.

    “We have informed the police. On Tuesday, a group of hoodlums, being sponsored by them, threw dynamite into the generator house of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area secretariat. We spoke with the police and we named them (those who threw the dynamite).

    “Rivers people should remain calm. We should not behave as if Rivers State does not belong to us. Somebody must be in the office as the governor of Rivers state.”

  • Rivers PDP crisis: Court strikes out Nsirim’s application

    A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has struck out the motion by the suspended Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Chairman, Timothy Nsirim, seeking to join in the suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar, the state Commissioner of Police, Mbu J. Mbu, and others, over the barricading of the council gate by the police for lack of merit.

    The chairman of the seven-man Care Taker Committee in the LGA, Chikodi Dike, last Monday went to court to seek an order to ask the police to dismantle the barricade and vacate the premises.

    The court ordered that the Attorney-General, the IGP, the CP, zone six Calabar and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Rumuokoro station be summoned to court to explain why he should not grant the requests by the applicants.

    Following this development, the suspended Executives of the LGA, (the chairman of the LGA, Nsirim, his deputy and the 17 councillors), filed application to join in the suit.

    In his ruling last Friday, Justice H. A. Njiangiwa said the attention of the party seeking to join was not necessary in the determination of the matter before the court.

    According to him, the suit before him was not to determine who the rightful occupant of the chairmanship office of the council should be, to make an order to allow people access to the blocked premises.

    He said that the issue of who should be occupying the office would be determined by the state High Court where the applicant had filed a suit.

    The council gate has been under lock and key since May 3.

    The applicant said the sealing off of the premises by the police was illegal.

    But the police said they were doing their job, blaming their action on the security information about a plan to bomb the premises.

    Earlier in his argument Nsirim gave his reasons for seeking to join in the suit, arguing that he is the rightful occupant of the office Dike was asking to be vacated.

  • Rivers PDP: Amaechi, Wike in counter-offensive

    Rivers PDP: Amaechi, Wike in counter-offensive

    SUPPORTERS of embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the State House of Assembly and those of the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, are locked in a counteroffensive in a bid to control the party machinery in the state. The Felix Obuah-led executive council of the PDP which was installed last week at the instance of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja,is threatening to suspend PDP members who are on the side of the governor in the battle for the soul of the party in the state. The planned suspension by Obuah is to frustrate the pro-Amaechi lawmakers from actualising their own plot of suspending the five legislators loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike. Wike is Amaechi’s chief opponent in the state and the No.1 governorship aspirant in the camp of Abuja-based PDP members from the state. The five pro-Wike lawmakers- Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III)- according to sources,are to be deployed in removing Amaechi as governor soon. The covert and overt activities of the two factions of the PDP have put the state under tension since their struggle for power blew into the open. The pro –Amaechi National Councillors’ Forum (NCF) in the state has condemned Obuah’s emergence but passed a vote of confidence in Amaechi for his ‘developmental strides’. Already, the governor’s camp may also have planned to ‘flush out’ more men from the rival faction in the Assembly. The NCF, in a communiqué at the end of an extra-ordinary meeting in Port Harcourt, described as very sad, the activities of Wike, Obuah and the ‘Abuja forces’ who they said were planning to destabilise the state. Chairman of the forum , Lesor Branu Nwigbaranee and the Secretary, Aruchi Nsirim , who signed the communiqué wondered why some Rivers indigenes, who are holding top positions in Abuja, would gang up to fight the governor. They claimed that by distracting the governor,his opponents are ,by extension, hampering the progress of the state. They pleaded with Rivers elders to intervene and call the errant politicians to order. The Association of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON) Rivers state chapter, in a separate statement said Chief Godspower Ake who was sacked by the court for Obuah , remains the dulyelected chairman of the party. ALGON also dissociated its members from the activities of “disgruntled elements,” who,according to him,are bent on causing confusion thereby paving the way for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and illegally remove Amaechi. The ALGON members who said they were not afraid of expulsion from the PDP alleged plan by the Obuah-led executive to suspend them for ‘anti-party activities’. Obuah said his exco is fully in control of the party, having taken over the state secretariat of the PDP on Aba Road in Port Harcourt. The new chairman said: “The PDP members in Rivers State, who are still supporting Ake and beating the drum of war, should guard their utterances and give peace a chance. “We are going to instil discipline in Rivers PDP. There will be no room for lawlessness. No elected or appointed official of government can be bigger than the political party. “Those who are abusing President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, by describing them as ‘Oga and Madam at the top’ should desist forthwith.” Obuah added that all was well in Rivers PDP, while asking the “few” aggrieved members to come on board, in order to move forward.