The
Progressive Governors Forum has accused President Goodluck Jonathan
of using his powers to bully Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi. The governors stated this on Friday while reacting to the
action of the armed policemen that blocked one of the gates leading to
the Rivers State Government House on Thursday.
The governors in a statement titled,
“Blockade to Rivers Government House: Assault on Constitution and
Descent to Anarchy”, said the incident was a direct affront on
constitutional order. They said, “A situation whereby the Federal
Government will use powers vested in it under the constitution to
bully and intimidate state governments is unacceptable and should be
resisted by every democratic government.
“We wish to unequivocally state our
resolve to work with all democrats in the country to ensure adequate
protection of democratic governance.’’
The statement was signed by Borno
State Governor, Kashim Shetima; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole;
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Imo State Governor, Rochas
Okorocha; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Nasarawa State
Governor, Tanko Almakura; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Osun
State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State Governor, Abiola
Ajimobi; Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim
Geldam; and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari. The
governors’ statement came just as some Nigerians condemned the action
of the police authorities in Rivers and the police insisted that they
did not bar the governor from accessing Government House.
The governors said they received the
news of the blockade with shock and disbelief, adding that crisis in
Rivers since July 2013 constituted a major threat to the nation’s
democracy.
They added that the situation in Rivers
State was unfortunate and that all Nigerians must call on the Federal
Government and all its agencies, including all arms of the security
services, to respect the letter and spirit of the 1999 Nigerian
Constitution.
They said, “In the specific case of
Rivers State, provisions of Section 215(4) of the 1999 Constitution
must be fully respected. This section provides that the Governor “may
give to the Commissioner of Police of that state such lawful
directions with respect to the maintenance and security of public
safety and public order within the state as he may consider necessary,
and the Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or
cause them to be complied with.’’
The governors noted that the
inability of the federal Authorities to exercise all the necessary
constitutional and moral authority to ensure the speedy resolution of
the crisis had remained a source of danger for the nation’s
democracy , the life of Amaechi and those of other public officers
serving in the state.
The governors said the police action
was a bad precedent and wondered if it was a signal that a similar
blockade could be mounted against the President at the Presidential
Villa. The police had on Thursday stopped Amaechi from using the gate to
gain entrance into the Government House. The governor was in company
with 102 former speakers of state Houses of Assembly when a team of
policemen allegedly drafted by the State Police Commissioner, Mr.
Joseph Mbu, blocked the Forces Avenue which leads to the governor’s
house in the Government House.
The ex-Speakers were in the state
capital for a meeting and had gone on an inspection tour after paying a
courtesy visit to the governor. Reacting, the New Peoples Democratic
Party said what happened in Rivers State was a sign that the country
was returning to the dark days of the former Head of State, Gen. Sani
Abacha.
A statement signed by the National
Publicity Secretary of the faction, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, in Abuja on
Friday, said many events in the country had shown that democracy was
not being allowed to thrive.
“Indeed, General Sani Abacha must be
lamenting in his grave that Nigerians wrongly abused him considering
the high degree of impunities being encouraged in a democratic set up,
with the Police being used as a tool to haunt political opponents,”
the faction said.
We didn’t block Amaechi – Police
However, the Rivers State Police Command on Thursday denied blocking Governor Amaechi,
from gaining access into the
Government House. The command in a statement signed by its Public
Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, described media reports on the
matter as “incorrect, false, fictitious and wrong in its entirety”.
The statement reads, “The attention of
the police command has been drawn to stories making the round in the
media that the police blocked the road to the Rivers State Government
House in Port Harcourt, denying His Excellency, Governor Chibuike
Amaechi ,access to the Government House.
The police state categorically that
they did not block the road leading to the Government House, neither
did they deny Governor Rotimi Amaechi access to the Government House
in Port Harcourt or elsewhere.
“The story is incorrect, false,
fictitious and wrong in its entirety and it is calculated to mislead
the people of Rivers State, Nigerians and the general public. The
Nigeria Police Force deems it necessary to place in proper perspective
the event that gave rise to the wrong information being peddled in
the media.’’
Amaechi lied – PDP
Also on Friday, the leadership of the
PDP denied the blockade, saying that the governor misled Nigerians. A
statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Chief Olisa Metuh, alleged that the governor created an impression
that he was barred by the police and the Federal Government from
entering the Government House.
“This distortion of facts is totally
unacceptable and unbefitting of a state governor,” Metu said, adding
that Amaechi was aware that based on the ruling of the courts, the
police had sealed off a secretariat illegally opened by some
individuals under the name, flag and colour of the PDP.
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U DONT POST MY COMMENTS,NEVER HAV U.U JUST WASTE MY MONEY.THATS GONNA BE THE LAST
ReplyDeletewell, the drama is gradually unfolding and we are all watching. its only God that is keeping this nation and the poor people. these people can not divide this country with their selfish interest.
ReplyDeleteAmechi is an actor and the governors are not serious. It was the gate the illegal PDP office that was blocked. This man should stop heating up the polity. Emeka Udeagu
ReplyDeleteAbeg, PDP should settle their differences and stop disturbing Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I am appalled by all these events. The constitution is very clear and its abuse by virtually anybody in government is only too clear for all to see but the impunity with which it is being done these days is what is very disheartening. I know Amaechi has his own faults but this is sheer arrogance on the side of the police. If you say you were ordered to block a building from being used for a particular purpose, do you block the whole road to such an extent that even the Governor of the state cannot go through it to his official house? I am not really surprised because 90% of these policemen are illiterates and 95% of them are very corrupt.
ReplyDeleteI must also register my displeasure at the CinC himself. He has brought the reputation of that office to a serious negative that even coming to zero will be a herculean task for him. I came to Nigeria to register to vote and returned to vote for this man. I campaigned for this man (even whilst queuing to be accredited) and even got about a dozen people who would have voted for Buhari/Bakare to change their minds and vote for him(which they did) and he turns the country into this? I will work tirelessly to make sure I canvass for other people this time. I am not a PDP member but my sister is a woman leader there(it has no consequence to me). As a matter of fact, I am in APC but will never vote my party because they are birds of a feather. Tinubu might be worse. Just see his antecedents in Lagos. If Nigerians fail to produce a credible candidate, I'll sit in my house, have a berbecue and drink my brandy with my friends and know I didn't waste my time in futile ventures that day(hoping of course God spares our lives to see the day).
Finally, Patience, please shut your trap. I am tired of seeing and hearing your face and voice respectively on tv. You are a disgrace to the nation. I really thought you had some ounce of brain matter but it seems I gave you more than what you deserved to be given.
Amechi is play acting. If u are GEJ u will do more than that. Will you allow your children to dictate the pace for u
DeleteOur votes won't count in 2015. There is too much desperation. I hope they won't put a gun to our head to vote GEJ or be killed.
DeleteAmaechi was fully aware that based on the ruling of the courts, the police had sealed off a secretariat illegally opened by some individuals under the name, flag and colour of the PDP, consequent upon which the route leading to the structure and the Government house was also closed.
ReplyDeleteHe accused the governor of defying the closure order by choosing to access the Government House through the same route in company with “unauthorised persons” who sought to beat security to access the sealed secretariat.
“Governor Amaechi cannot feign ignorance of the fact that the route was closed as he must have been fully informed by his security details, otherwise he is running an incompetent government that cannot guarantee the safety and welfare of his state.
May Allah save Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteOga at the top.
ReplyDeleteOh! Jonathan is a bully? What is amaechi? Who single handedly removed all the LG chairmen in his state!
ReplyDeleteIrresponsible civilians! We in the barracks are watching this impunity and we encourage you guys to continue so that we will have enough reasons to overthrow and jail all of you!
ReplyDeleteabeg take over jare
ReplyDeleteNigerian Civilians are not Civilized.Everybody tries to abuse the power vested on him.From the presidency to the LG chairman. Even MDs, GMs, EDs, GOs, VCs Principals, Head teachers,Managers etc. In fact every one is authoritarian in his position and it has become our culture.
ReplyDeleteFrom Weeping Nigerian
@ Commando:You are really an idiot,the damage done to this great country by the military is uncompairable to that done by some of those bloody civilians. It‘s the military that legalise and take corruptions to it peak level, you idiots has notting to offer the citizen of this country and we will ever say no to military and barbaric rule.
ReplyDelete