The Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Evaluation Committee has left out Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and the 27 lawmakers supporting him in the state House of Assembly in its duty to assess the performance of members of the party that have held positions.
The committee, however, invited the Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru, the former deputy national chairman of the party Dr. Sam Jaja, the senators representing the state’s three senatorial districts, 13 House of Representatives members, among others.
The committee was inaugurated by party chairman Felix Obua shortly after he emerged following the sack of the Chief Godspower Ake led executive, but was dragged to court by loyalists of Amaechi, who had asked the court to stop it from operating, alleging with hunt.
It would be recalled a Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Hon Justice Godspower Aguma Tuesday, August 20, 2013 quashed the governor’s application to the party from going on with the planned performance evaluation of all the political office holders elected and appointed by the party.
The committee is headed by Osinakachukwu Ideozu who addressed reporters at the Party Secretariat in Port Harcourt where the exercise is being held said Amaechi and the 27 State Assembly members loyal to him would not be entertained in course of its assignment.
Ideozu said: “The reason for excluding these persons is simple. The Governor and 27 house members are suspended and so can’t be invited. This exercise would have been held earlier, but the Governor took the party to court to stop our work. We are starting now because a High Court struck out the suit on Tuesday.
He said the committee will not be biased in its assessment, and that the committee will work for three days and hand over its report to the executive.
“We will have an unbiased sitting; we don’t have any mindset on any matter. We don’t expect anybody not to come, because it is a party invitation. The committee will really find out what our members in various positions have achieved,” he said.
The former national organizing secretary of the party, Prince Uche Sekondus appeared before the committee. He said he had no problem appearing as a loyal party man, adding there was need to work hard in the party’s interest.
He said: “I got words yesterday, and as a loyal party man I am here. It was a good session; they asked me about my stewardship as chairman of the party here in Rivers. The committee will evaluate party stakeholders and officers.
“It is an indication that we must be up and doing as a party knowing that the situation in the world is dynamic. The members of committee are working very hard, and they will come out with a good result.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the party, through his media assistant, Jerry Needam has urged party member not to be afraid of the committee, noting that only those with skeletons in their cupboards should exhibit fear.
He said the party was happy that the court saw the need to allow the committee to go ahead with its task.
“We are therefore joyful that our noble effort to make things right and better for our people has been acknowledged by a court of competent jurisdiction against the wishes of undemocratic forces that favour the ignoble and unacceptable status quo”, the PDP declared.
