| The presidency has reacted angrily to last week’s solidarity visit of four northern governors to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State over the violent political crisis there. Presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, who addressed a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, described the visit as “political drama”. |
Mr. Okupe said the visit by Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, and Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger was a political move “clearly intended to create fear, despair and sense of apprehension among the citizenry.”
He said the governors, all members of President Goodluck Jonathan’s PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, were trying to create the impression that Rivers State was in crisis contrary to what is on the ground.
“Insinuations and statements suggesting that Rivers State is on fire are grossly unfounded. So far, as is it evident to every discerning observer of political developments, the state is calm and peaceful. Residents of the state continue to go about their various businesses, religious, social and political activities under peaceful atmosphere,” he said.
Mr. Okupe added that a pointer to the prevailing peace in the state was that “Governor Amaechi, the Chief executive and 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”.
Rivers crisis has no bearing on Nigeria
The presidential spokesperson also said the situation in Rivers State was a a localized political matter with no dangerous or far reaching consequences for thepeace and security of the nation.
He said the crisis in Rivers was an attempt by some state lawmakers to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The attempted impeachment by five lawmakers loyal to the first lady, Patience Jonathan, and the presidency led to violence in the 32-member Assembly.
“Since our return to democratic rule in 1999, It is on record that not less than twelve states have witnessed incidents of attempted impeachment of Speakers of Houses of Assembly in Nigeria and none has posed any threat to peace and security in the country even when our democracy was not this established,” Mr. Okupe said.
“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.”
Visit is hypocritical
Mr. Okupe also recalled that in Ogun State in 2010, after 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,” he said.
He also said Nigeria was not in any way in disarray.
“As is the case in every country of the world, there may be conflicts of ideas and interests here and there, which in itself is the beauty of democracy and should not by any means be construed to mean that there is chaos in the country or that Nigeria is tilting towards anarchy as some people have claimed.
“Nigeria remains peaceful and is not and cannot in any way be threatened by political developments in Rivers State,” Mr. Okupe said.
The presidential aide took a further swipe at the four PDP governors, accusing them of not being as interested in the security challenges bedevilling the north much as the political crisis in Rivers.
“It is clear that one of the most potent threats to our corporate existence and sovereignty since independence has been the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Most reasonable Nigerians would have expected these governors to be deeply concerned and appreciative of the laudable effort of the Federal Government, which has brought reprieve from fear as well as comfort and solace not only to the people of the affected areas but also to the entire nation and international community.
“Surprisingly, they appear to be more interested in political manoeuvring and grandstanding at the expense of the well-being of the people in their states and the stability of the nation at large,” he said.
NGF chairman cannot determine who becomes president
Mr. Okupe also spoke about the crisis trailing the election of the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF and its implication on the 2015 election.
Mr. Amaechi was elected chairman of the forum despite opposition to his candidacy by the PDP and allegedly the presidency. Observers had described Mr. Amaechi’s victory over Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau, despite the opposition, as an indication of what could happen in 2015 should some PDP governors work with or for the opposition.
Source: National Network
