Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, has alleged that “there are strong indications that the state Governor, ChibuikeAmaechi, the legislators and prominent government officials have been marked for assassination.
He made the allegation in a petition he sent to President Goodluck Jonathan on what he described as near break down of law and order in the state over the raging crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Amachree said since the party’s leadership led by G.U. Ake was sacked by the Abuja High Court on April 15, things had not been well in Rivers State.
“Your Excellency Sir, it is important to note that since this development, Rivers State is witnessing, with unending shock and awe, the creeping fashion of daylight illegality and disorder.
“As stakeholders in the Nigeria democratic project and legitimate representatives of our people as well as strong collaborators in your Excellency’s emergence as President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, we seek to use this medium to inundate you of the developments, their implications for Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole and pray your Presidential intervention.”
The Speaker added: “In lieu of the oath of office as a legislature, let us reiterate our unwavering commitment and loyalty to the Constitution and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially the people of Rivers State.
“We have absolute, unshaken and unflinching confidence in you as President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the leadership of Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
“We shall defend and promote the collective social contract vested in our mandate.”
Amachree said the Assembly was alarmed and disturbed by “the planned withdrawal of security personnel attached to various Rivers State Government establishments and officials, especially that of the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the ministries and the local government councils.
“A test run has been executed with the withdrawal of police from the Okirika Local Government Council by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu”
Also in Port Harcourt on Tuesday women from all walks of life, clad in black attire, staged a peaceful protest, demanding “immediate” transfer of the state Commissioner of Police.
Drawn from some of the 23 local government areas of the state, the women said the reason for their protest was to make their grievances known over the “partisanship” of the police commissioner in the political crisis in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Goodness Ukwu said they were in the Government House to protest the continued retention of Mbu as police commissioner, pointing out that his activities recently aggravated the already tensed situation in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the police command has denied appealing the interim injunction of a Federal High Court ordering the police to withdraw its men from the premises of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to enable the care taker committee conduct its daily routine.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Agabe, told journalists at the police command headquarters on Tuesday that she was not aware of any appeal by the police against the court ruling.
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