The President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, yesterday asked Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta, to show restraint in their face-off, which, according to him, does not do the region any good.
The governor and the minister have been locked in a war of words sparked by what is perceived as Amaechi’s political ambition ahead 2015. The governor is speculated to be interested in contesting as a presidential running mate – a move that may jeopardise President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term.
Orubebe in a veiled reference to the speculation said the governor has not lived up to expectation in the discharge of his gubertanatorial responsibility, while Amaechi replied that the minister was a failure.
Reacting to the development yesterday, Pyagbara, said: “That (face-off) is not good for Niger Delta and Nigeria. It is really unfortunate. As leaders, they must know that people are watching them. They ought to be mentoring the younger ones.
“Governor Amaechi should always criticise in love and with respect. It is not right for the NGF chairman to abuse and embarrass his Niger Delta kinsmen, especially President Jonathan and Elder Orubebe.”
Pyagbara added that it was imperative for leaders and other people of the Niger Delta to always speak with one voice, in order to move forward and urged Orubebe to ensure the early completion of the East/West Road.
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Miabiye Kuromiema, asked Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to guard his utterances and show respect to his fellow Niger Delta leaders.
Kuromiema, who hails from Okrika in Rivers State, said: “Amaechi’s comment on the East-West Road demeans the office of a governor. Rivers governor must realise that he cannot take over the East-West Road through his remarks on AIT, except he is playing politics.
“The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs should concentrate on the dualisation of the East-West Road. Niger Delta people want to see the road fully dualised very soon.”
The IYC president then called for unity among Nigerians, especially people of the Niger Delta, in order to be sure of a better tomorrow.
Chief Tunde Odanye, a top member of the PDP and former governorship aspirant on the party’s platform, told The Nation yesterday that the war of words was part of the democratic freedom and indiscipline in PDP.
“I have not read the exact words the two top officials used against each other, but we are all aware of what has been happening in PDP of late. We can recall the case involving Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and that of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Olagunsoye Oyinlola. This one, the face-off between Amaechi and Orubebe is the latest. You know PDP is a big party and we allow freedom of speech in the party. So, what we are seeing today is a sign of freedom associated with genuine democracy. It is also part of the indiscipline we have to contend with.”
He explained that PDP has acknowledged the fact that it has this problem and is doing something to resolve the problem. “The worst scenario is if the party had pretended that it does not have a problem. This type of indiscipline is a problem in PDP today and the party elders are working hard now to solve it,” he said.
Source: OgoniNews
