‘Jonathan is acting worse than Abacha’ – New PDP

Eleven (11) governors under the auspices of the Progressive Governors Forum has indicted President Goodluck Jonathan of using the powers of his office to intimidate the governor of Rivers State Mr. Rotimi  Amaechi.

This is in their reaction to the sordid treatment meted on Ameachi during the week when he alongside a group of 102 former speakers  of state Houses of Assembly Assembly were barricaded from gaining access into the government house via the  Forces Avenue.

There are however mixed reactions trailing the incident since it’s occurrence on Thursday.

It was learnt that the policemen were allegedly deployed by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to bar Amaechi from the Government House through the route.

In a statement by the governors comprising; Borno State Governor, Kashim  Shetima; Edo State  Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode  Fayemi; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha;  Lagos State Governor, Babatunde  Fashola;  Nasarawa State Governor,  Tanko Almakura; Ogun State  Governor, Ibikunle  Amosun; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State  Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Geldam; and Zamfara  State Governor,  Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari   decried theincident and described it as gradualdescent of the country into a state of anarchy.

The statement was entitled “Blockade to Rivers Government House:  Assault on Constitution and Descent to Anarchy”.

The governors reacted thus; “A situation whereby the Federal Government will use powers vested in it under the  constitution to bully  and intimidate state governments is unacceptable and should  be resisted by  every democratic government.

“We wish to unequivocally state our resolve to work with  all democrats in the  country to ensure adequate protection of democratic  governance.’’

The governors’ statement came just as some Nigerians  condemned the action of the police authorities in Rivers and the police insisted  that they did not bar  the governor from accessing Government House.

The statement revealed that the governors said they were in “shock and disbelief” when the news reached them.

Besides they see the crisis which has been brewing in Rivers  state since July 2013 as “a major threat to the nation’s  democracy”.

“In the specific case of Rivers State, provisions of Section 215(4)  of the 1999 Constitution must be fully respected. This  section provides that  the Governor “may give to the Commissioner of Police of  that state such lawful  directions with respect to the maintenance and security of  public safety and  public order within the state as he may consider necessary,  and the  Commissioner of Police shall comply with those directions or  cause them to be  complied with”, it was maintained.

However, they decried the inability of the presidency to exercise all  the necessary  constitutional and moral authority to ensure the speedy  resolution of the  crisis had remained a source of danger for  the nation’s   democracy ,  the life of Amaechi and those of other public officers serving in the state.

The governors   insisted that the action of the men of the police force was a bad precedent and wondered if  it was a signal that a similar blockade could be mounted  against the President  at the Presidential Villa.

Besides, a renowned  lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and the National Vice President, Committee for the Defense of  Human Rights, Mr. Taiwo Otitolaye, told the media  through separate  phone interviews that  the police action  was a threat to  democracy.
-punch

we need a change of government. pdp has done enough...pack your load and go
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