Rivers crisis: Protesters hold Amaechi, 4 govs hostage

Posted by admin Adamawa, Headlines, Kano, Niger, Rivers, State News, Top Stories Wednesday, July 17th, 2013

As Lamido, Kwakwanso, Aliyu, Nyako call for redeployment of CP

From CHRIS ANUCHA and TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt

Protesters yesterday held Rivers State Governor, Hon Chibuike Amaechi and four visiting governors hostage at the Port Harcourt International Airport. The governors holed in at the airport, with Amaechi, are Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso (Kano), Alhaji Mu’azu Babangida Aliu (Niger) and Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

The protesters, made up of women and youths, had stormed the airport in buses, after being allegedly mobilised by the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), on getting information that the four northern governors were coming to Rivers State on a solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi.

Amaechi, who arrived the Port Harcourt International Airport at about 9a.m yesterday, to receive his colleagues, was overwhelmed when placard-carrying youths and women barricaded the gate of the protocol lounge. The placards displayed by the protesters had various inscriptions, like: “Amaechi is a disgrace to Rivers State”; “We regret that you are our son”; “Rivers State is not northern platform” and “Wole Soyinka, leave Rivers State alone,” among others.

When the pro-Amaechi group got information that the rival group’s supporters were at the airport to molest the governor and his guests, they quickly mobilised and rushed to the airport, where a clash ensued. Security men were able to avert what would have resulted in a bloody clash.

Daily Sun gathered that as soon as the anti-Amaechi supporters sighted a bus carrying the state commissioners, they attacked it, smashing the screen. Other vehicles belonging to officials of the state government were not spared by the protesting youths, as they were damaged. Apparently prevented from leaving the airport, Amaechi and the visiting governors were later aided by security personnel to drive out unhurt. Their convoy arrived the Government House at about 1.20pm, instead of 11am earlier scheduled.

Confirming the incident, State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the protesters were deceived by a certain group of people, who told them to come to the airport, to receive some important dignitaries. She explained that immediately they came to the airport, the organisers brandished placards and handed them over to the surprise of the youths. The protesters, she further confirmed, damaged the bus carrying commissioners and some other vehicles.

She said: “I arrived with Governor Amaechi from Abuja this morning, at about 9am, only for us to see that there was a crowd of a couple of persons, at the gate of the protocol lounge. Clearly, it was an organised crowd, because it was spontaneous. Anybody who knows Rivers State knows how we turn out. I understand from those, who asked them why they were there, that they were told to come to receive dignitaries, by members of GDI. And when they got to the airport, they were handed placards.

“My worry is that this is very disconcerting and is rather, a curious development in our democracy and we must not throw away the baby with bad water. This is because, we have a democracy that we have all fought so hard for, and the last thing we should do, whether as politicians or as Nigerians, is to throw away that democracy.

“And actions, like what happened today, do have the capacity of derailing our democracy.

Meanwhile, the four northern governors said they had come to visit their colleague, brother and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.

In the statement signed by them, the governors said they had come to ascertain what they read in newspapers, saw on television and heard on radio, about what posed a threat to peace, security and democracy.

“We are pleased to notice peaceful atmosphere in town and that people in the state are going about their normal business and that the governor and government are in charge. This is especially reassuring, as opposed to the organised protest by a handful of persons at the Port Harcourt Airport, when we arrived,” they stated.

The governors also expressed shock at the role of the Nigeria Police in the Rivers crisis and commended the House of Representatives for the proactive measure. They also appreciated the Senate Committee for thoroughness in addressing the matter. The Governors also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to immediately redeploy the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.

In a related development, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Elders of Rivers State have condemned yesterday’s visit of four northern governors. Chairman of PDP in the state, Felix Obuah, said the presence of the visitors was not in the interest of the state. He stated that PDP and Rivers people were not in support of the visit and called on Governor Amaechi to stop misusing the state resources. Also, the Concerned Elders expressed worry that Amaechi allegedly allowed himself to be used by people who were enemies of the state and South-South region.

A statement issued on behalf of Concerned Elders of Rivers State, by Sergeant Awuse, stated: “As responsible and concerned elders, we will hold the governors of Niger, Jigawa, Adamawa, Kano and Wole Soyinka responsible if there is breakdown of our people, but also an unnecessary provocation of the peace loving Rivers people, as the state is yet to recover from the insensitivity of Governor Amaechi’s visit to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, which resulted in mayhem that has rendered Hon. Michael Okechukwu Chinda and Hon. Kelechi Nwogu lying critically ill in the hospital.”_

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