As factionalism continues to tear the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State apart following efforts to wrest control of the party from Governor Rotimi Amaechi, there are indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may want to patch up his differences with the governor to pave the way for the return of peace. Disagreement between the president and the governor is believed to lie beneath the division in the party.
But in stark contrast to his hostile attitude towards Amaechi in recent times, Jonathan on Saturday at the Port Harcourt International Airport embraced the governor and members of the state executive council, who had come to receive him as he arrived the airport about midday in a presidential helicopter from Beyelsa en route Abuja.
The president clearly ignored his Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike, the leader of the anti-Amaechi faction of PDP in Rivers State, who had also come to the airport with his crowd of supporters, apparently, to steal Amaechi’s thunder.
When Jonathan alighted from the aircraft with his entourage, he shook hands with Amaechi, managing director of Niger Delta Development Corporation, Dr. Chris Oboh, and a couple of others and was led by the governor to where the state executive council members were lined up and waiting to greet him. The president ignored the row of Wike and his group, completely avoiding them, even after his attention was drawn to their presence. Wike was conspicuously perplexed and forlorn after Jonathan board the presidential jet.
The future of PDP in Rivers State has hung in the balance since after a controversial verdict on April 15 by Justice Ishaq Bello of the Abuja high court that removed the state executive committee of PDP loyal to Amaechi, which was led by Chief Godswill Ake, and replaced it with another led by Mr. Felix Obuah, which is sponsored by Wike.
Source: ThisDay