Presidency attacks four govs for visiting Amaechi

The Presidency on Wednesday condemned the solidarity visit of some Northern governors to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State following the political crisis in the state.

It also said the crisis in the state did not pose any threat to the nation’s democracy.

 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who said this at a briefing in Abuja, also dismissed the insinuation that Amaechi had offended President Goodluck Jonathan.

Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) visited the Rivers State governor on July 16 following the political impasse in the state.

Okupe, who frowned on the visit, said the move showed that they were “more interested in political maneuvering and grandstanding at the expense of the well-being of the people in their states and the stability of the nation at large.”

He added, “We therefore admonish governors having serious issues with their party to take advantage of various channels within the party machinery to resolve it. Also, they may first of all try to show good example of their commitment to peace by working to put their own house in order through restoration of peace and consensus within the NGF.

“While we note their current political moves, they should be mindful that in all they do as political leaders, they ought to put the interest of the nation and our democracy first. This indeed, is the hallmark of true patriotism.”

Okupe, who described the crisis in the state as a local political matter, added that the impasse had not affected the peace and security of the nation.

According to him, the insinuation that the state is on fire is unfounded and lacking in evidence.

He said, “A pointer to the prevailing peace in the state is the fact that Governor Amaechi, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state, felt confident enough to travel to the United Kingdom on official assignment.

“It is doubtful he would have had the luxury of leaving the country if his state is in turmoil as is being canvassed.

“Developments in Rivers State do not pose any threat to our democracy. Our democracy remains robust, alive and well.

“In politics as in every sphere of human activity, different shades of opinion on issues are not uncommon within the polity but often get resolved either politically or through legal channels.

“It is therefore disingenuous for anyone to suggest that the political disagreement in Rivers State would imperil and ultimately derail our democracy.

“We recall that in Ogun State in 2010 after a series of sustained fracas and attempts at impeachment and counter-impeachment, the Inspector-General of Police locked up the House of Assembly for several months.

“In all that time, nobody in the whole country suggested that the situation was a threat to our nascent democracy, and no state governor went on any solidarity visit.”