Rivers State Governor Barred

News reaching us have it that the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has been
barred from gaining entry into Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti
state capital, for the final rally of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
Confirming this development to DailyPost, David
Iyofor, who is the Chief Press secretary to
Amaechi said the governor is currently being held
hostage around Ododo in Akure, Ondo State.
Iyofor said the Governor’s convoy was stopped by
a number of military men who arrived in a white
Hiace Bus.
Similarly, National Publicity Secretary of the APC,
Lai Mohammed said Governor Amaechi was
threatened with a gun by the security operatives if
he attempts to disobey their command.
As at the time of filing this report, Governor
Amaechi is still trapped along the Ado-Akure road
according to Lai Mohammed.
In a related development, the Nigeria’s airport
authorities on Thursday closed Akure airspace to
prevent dignitaries from landing at the Akure
airport enroute Ado-Ekiti for the event.
The programme is a grand rally by the Ekiti State
Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the All
Progressive Congress candidate in Saturday’s
governorship election in the state.
Among those whose planes could not land at the
airport is Edo State governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole.
A chopper chartered by Oshiomhole to take him
to Akure airport was grounded at the Benin
airport this afternoon on orders from above.
In a statement issued by Ibim Semenitari,
Commissioner of Information and
Communications,
Rivers State, she said the “Government is
concerned about the safety of Governor Amaechi
who is right now being held hostage commando
style by soldiers and federal government security
agents in Odudu, Ondo state.
“Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria
Governors’ forum and as an APC governor and
chieftain had left Port Harcourt this morning for
Ekiti state where he was to join his brother
governor in his last mega rally before the
elections.
“Governor Amaechi was ambushed and refused
entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on
orders from above. He made to turn back and
return to Akure where his chattered aircraft was
parked but was chased and rounded by armed
soldiers and security personnel in Odudu, Ondo
state. According to the captain who led the
operation, he had orders not to allow the
governor entry or exit.
“In the meantime, the chattered aircraft that
conveyed the governor has been grounded while
the minsters of Defence, police Affairs and
Minister of state for Defence have landed at the
Akure airport.
“The Rivers State government is especially
worried that Federal government and President
Jonathan have singled out Governor Amaechi for
harassment and attack.
“While we hold the person and office of the
President in utmost regards, we believe that it is
unacceptable that the presidency would
disrespect the person and office of an elected
governor of a federating unit and consistently
hound him.
“The Rivers State government is all more worried
as Ondo saga is coming on the heels of a plot by
six PDP lawmakers this morning to carry out a
kangaroo impeachment of the duly elected
governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi, con first at Krisdara hotels and later
Bauchi street, Port Harcourt.
“Ordinarily, such banality should be ignored as it
is neither legal nor constitutional. However in the
light of the recent attempts to hoist a Chief Judge
on Rivers people through the back door and the
attendant rumours that the reason for that
desperate act was to make it easier for the PDP
to actualize its sinister daydream of ousting
Governor Amaechi before May 29, 2015, we
believe that it has become necessary to draw the
attention of Rivers people, Nigerians and the
international community to the situation in Rivers
State.
“Only yesterday, in preparation for this
tragicomedy, the Rivers State chapter of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused
Governor Amaechi of importing terrorists into the
state and the region. They continued their diatribe
by demanding that the governor of Rivers State
be put under surveillance. The State Government
wouldn’t have dignified the PDP’s display of
ignorance with a response but for the fact that
these accusations coupled with today’s actions
are omniuos signs of how far the PDP is willing
to go in its quest to cling onto power by all
means.
“The antecedents of impunity on the part of the
leadership of the PDP are instructive and the
party’s desperation to harm and stop anyone they
perceive as major threat to their crumpling
electoral fortunes next year is no longer news.
The detention attempt and incident at the Kano
International Airport last week are still fresh in the
minds of Nigerians. Also, the call to put Gov
Amaechi under surveillance (or is it house
arrest?) on the same day that PDP started effort
to unseat the Governor of Adamawa State, His
Excellency, Murtala Nyako, is enough indication of
the script already written by a jittery PDP
“It is sad that the insane minds of the authors of
the PDP accusation are jeopardizing police
investigations of the 486 travellers who were
intercepted in Aba, Abia State, and who are still
being screened. One only wishes that the PDP
would address the issues of the insecurity in the
country with as much fervor and vigour as it
deploys towards witch hunting its political
opponents.
“The Rivers Government wishes to state that the
world knows those who feather the nest of
cultists and militants and for whom they are
canon fodder. Governor Amaechi’s position on
cultisim, violence and insecurity are clear as is his
commitment to fighting poverty and improving the
lives of our present and future generations.
“The Rivers State Government will not be deterred
in its efforts to deliver good governance and
ddemocratic dividends to our people.
“We appeal to all Rivers people appeals to all
members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
and citizens in the state to remain calm in the
face of these provocations.
“We call on the Security Agencies to exhibit
professionalism in their conduct of affairs. We
appeal to all well meaning people in Nigeria and
around the world to please call the PDP to order
before they truncate our democracy.
“It appears to us that the PDP clearly have no
interest in the peace and stability either Rivers
state.
“We are mindful of these mischievous elements
but continue to call for tolerance and eternal
vigilance. We are certain that the God who reigns
in the affairs of Rivers people will again deliver us
from this evil and terror that stalks us at noon
day”.