Opposition Parties Back Gov
THE political crisis in Rivers State has taken a new twist as the Police yesterday said it would quiz the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, and the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Tony Okocha, over the allegation that the state had uncovered plot to assassinate Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The disclosure came barely 24 hours after the Speaker accused the Rivers state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, of unceremoniously withdrawing nine anti riot policemen attached to him.
Mbu, who confirmed the withdrawal of the policemen, has however warned that as the chairman of internal security in the state, he would not fold his arms and allow people to make inflammatory statements and create tension in Rivers.
Reacting to the purported allegation of the plan to assassinate Governor Amaechi, the Police Commissioner told journalists at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt Friday that the Speaker had raised serious issues about security threats and attempts to murder the governor who is the chief security officer of the state.
Mbu hinged his decision to withdraw policemen attached to certain government officials in the state on what he described as a general tendency to abuse the use of policemen in Rivers State.
Efforts to reach the Speaker yesterday proved abortive.
Meanwhile, opposition political parties in Rivers State have expressed support to Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The parties, under the aegis of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Rivers State chapter gave their backing to Amaechi during a solidarity visit to him in Government House, Port Harcourt, Friday.
The leader of the opposition parties, Dr. Minaebi Dagogo Jack said: "Our main purpose for this visit is particularly on the crisis that is facing the state. We hear of crisis in the State House of Assembly; we saw women protesting here and there. We saw youths carrying placards here and there in the state; the electronic and print media carrying stories of threat of all kinds and most recently 'bomb blast' within the premises of Obio Akpor Local Government Area. Your Excellency, we as leaders of the various opposition parties are greatly worried over these recent increases in security threats as a result of internal problems from one political party, the PDP in which you belong. We are aware that you are the leader of the PDP in Rivers State and more importantly the governor of the state and so as partners of progress we deemed it most appropriate to pay you a visit and to state that Rivers State does not belong to one political party alone, but belongs to all of us including those of us from the opposition political parties."
They added: "We cannot be quick to forget that some years ago, crises similar to this were pampered until it became a major monster that nearly swallowed everybody. We all felt the negative impact because good people refused to say anything. When you came on board, you took some bold steps to curb the situation.
Everybody that lived in Rivers State then could testify that we later slept with two eyes closed. And so, we are here to appreciate you for those bold steps and to insist that you take similar bold steps to stop these current wicked acts that could lead the state to another level of crisis. We are indeed worried and are prepared to be by you and support you to put an end to these crisis".
State party chairmen on the solidarity visits were from ANPP, NAP, SDMP, RPN, COA, SNCP, DPP, PPN, CPP, ACD, ADC, NCP, and ACPN.
Others were NNPP, APA, AA, UDP, MPPP, PDC, CPC and Labour Party (LP).
Responding, Governor Amaechi thanked the opposition party leaders in the state for their visit and support. He pledged not to disappoint the people of the state.
Amaechi said: "Let me welcome you to Rivers State Government House. You pointed out what is going on in the PDP and the rascality that is happening in the state. We believe that power belongs to God first and then to you the people. We believe that whatever is going on now can be handled by government and the people. I thank you for your support and I assure you that I will not disappoint our people."
The Guardian