A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, and its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to caution the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah.
The call was made on Monday through a statement by the factional Publicity Secretary of the state PDP, Mr. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba.
Ukwuoma-Nwogba urged the President to prevail on Wike and Obuah to put an end to the lawlessness in the state chapter of the party in order to avoid chaos.
The Chief Godspower Ake-led faction of the party warned against unguarded statements by Wike and Obuah, recalling that recent statements credited to the minister and Obuah were aimed at heating up the polity, and possibly destroy the party and truncate democracy.
He said, "Such statements include his (Obuah) congratulatory message to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, even when it was clear to the whole country and world that Governor Chibuike Amaechi won Jang with a clear 19 to 16 votes, and is the authentic chairman of the NGF.
"Another instance is Obuah's congratulatory message to Evans Bipi of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who proclaimed himself Speaker of the Assembly after a 'coup' by him and four other members to impeach the speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, failed on the day they attempted to disrupt sitting and cause mayhem in the Assembly with the help of their thugs and police accomplices."
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and relevant organs to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.
In a statement on Monday by its Acting Senate President, John Shima, the students said Jonathan could not claim innocence in the fracas because his wife, Patience, by her comments, was directly involved.
NANS said, "The direct involvement of the First Lady in the matter, which she publicly admitted to when 16 bishops from the South-South paid her a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa last week, implies Mr. President's tacit involvement in it. Therefore, Mr. President cannot continue to feign ignorance or indifference in this very sensitive matter."
The Punch