Amaechi Reveals Plot To Cause Crisis In Rivers

The Rivers State Government led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi has warned the presidency not to cause crisis in the state.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, David Iyofor, at the weekend, the Rivers state government alleged that the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Dan Bature, had been directed by the Presidency to install a certain Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant as governor in the 2015 elections.

The statement quoted two national newspapers that reported last week that the new police boss had been instructed by the Presidency to use the former police commissioner, Joseph Mbu’s ‘draconian style and tactics’ in causing crisis in the state.

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It informed that under the alleged plot, the police would “tackle Governor Chibuike Amaechi, his sup­porters and Rivers people and then install the preferred candi­date as governor.”

The statement also stated that one of the newspapers accused the Presidency of masterminding Bature’s deployment to Rivers State for the purpose of executing the ‘toxic script’.

“While it is easy for a few in the Presidency to dismiss these reports, we in Rivers State, with the benefit of hind­sight and our collective recent bitter experience in the hands of former Police Commis­sioner Joseph Mbu, who was also reported to have a similar mandate, cannot.

“Therefore, we would want to state that the people of Riv­ers State will strongly and bravely resist any attempt by anyone or institutions, including the Presidency, to unconstitutionally install the preferred PDP aspirant as governor of the state, now or in the 2015 election.

“There is no provision in the Nigerian constitution and laws for the ‘installation’ of a preferred aspirant as governor of a state by the Presidency. What our laws prescribe is a free and fair election that must be devoid of police and security forces coercion, harassment and intimidation of voters.

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“Rivers voters must be allowed to and will freely choose and elect their governor in the 2015 elections. It is their inalienable democratic right that they will not and will never surrender to anyone or institution," the statement read in part.

On Friday, Governor Amaechi had stated that Mbu was just a politician parading himself in police clothes and attempting to destroy the Rivers state economy.

Amaechi made the statement while receiving Bature in his office, saying that Mbu refused to do his job of protecting lives and properties in Rivers State and started becoming PDP’s watchdog.

Political analysts are of the opinion that this latest accusation from the government of Rivers State might be connected to the ongoing ill-feelings between President Jonathan Governor Amaechi.

Both elder statesman have been in a war of words since Amaechi refused to quit his position as head of the Governors forum of Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng