Press Statement
…says he is a Disgrace to Rivers People
…Calls on Security Agencies, INEC To Be Watchful of Him
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter, expresses worry that unless the State is reclaimed from Gov Rotimi Amaechi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the people and institutions of the State may have nothing left of them following his persistent statements indicating his disposition and preference of bloody revolution, thuggery and other acts of violence.
Particularly, and of most recent, the PDP fumes at Gov Amaechi’s declaration at Friday (yesterday’s) meeting between him and some Lawyers in the State, during which he (Amaechi), reacting to a civil, peaceful and well embraced protest organized by a concerned Lawyer over his insensitivity and disregard of the fundamental rights of citizens and the judicial system in the State, said if he knew of such protest by the Lawyer and civil rights activist, Barr. Chris Itamunoala, he (Gov Amaechi) would have mobilized thugs, dress them in suites to counter, dislodge and beat them (Itamunoala and his fellow protesters) up.
The PDP notes with embarrassment and great concerns that such statement could come from a Governor and Chief Executive of a State, particularly someone who professes to be a saint and an agent of positive change. This, to us, is a clear testimony that Amaechi does not have the moral and civilized character to be where he is, and the Party will ensure that Rivers State is let off his and the APC hook come 2015 general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party also explains that it is convinced that it is either he (the Governor) is a recalcitrant, who does not heed the advice of his Advisers and Aides or that the so called Advisers are daft and incompetent. Otherwise, we would have thought that the Governor’s consistent calls for bloody revolution, showing his inclination to violence, including his physical participation like in the case of the fracas at the Rivers State House of Assembly, confrontations with people, the Police and other security and law enforcement agencies, as well as directives and persuasions on the public, particularly members of the APC on violence, should be highly denounced and dissociated from.
If the Governor could be that violent, how will an ordinary citizen be? It is therefore, important that we draw the attention of the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to these actions and statements emanating from the Rivers State Governor, Amaechi, as we progress to the 2015 general elections, when we expect and we have vowed to ensure a peaceful, rigging-free, and transparent electoral exercise.
Unless Amaechi and his allies in APC are tamed and made to denounce thuggery, stop intimidation of the locals, demobilize all violent structures and other indices and tools of electoral fraud they have put in place as their preparation for the coming elections, the envisaged success in terms of peace and credibility will not be achieved by the respective institutions concerned.
On our part as a responsible party, in as much as the system guarantees justice and fair play, we would continue to act in accordance to civility and laws guiding the process.
Signed:
Jerry Needam
SA, on Media to
State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah
Saturday, November 8, 2014
