The Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis hit a
frightening bend yesterday, with House of Assembly Speaker Otelemaba Dan
Amachree alleging a plot to assassinate Governor Rotimi Chibuike
Amaechi and other officials.
He did not name those behind the plot.
In an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Speaker said
there was a plan to withdraw security personnel attached to the
governor, the House, ministries and local government councils.
This, he said, is besides indications that the governor, legislators
and prominent government officials have been marked for elimination.
The Speaker said the plot was hatched at “nocturnal meetings held in a neighboring state and Abuja”.
Amachree called for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Police Command, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
He urged President Jonathan “to intervene in the ongoing imbroglio
that is about destroying the very fabrics that hold the society (our
state) together”.
The Speaker said all has not been well since April 15 when an Abuja
High Court upturned the election of the state Executive Committee of the
PDP, led by Chief G. U. Ake.
He alleged that “a test run” of the plot to expose the officers to
the assassin’s bullet “has been executed, with the withdrawal of police
from the Okirika Local Government Council.”
According to him, the situation is exacerbated by an alleged plan to
release 18 notable robbery and kidnap kingpins from detention.
The detainees, he said, would be freed “to carry out this planned
mayhem on the government officials, innocent citizens and residents of
the state”.
Amachree wrote: “Mr. President Sir, we had on 30 April, 2013 alerted
the people of the wanton cunning collapse of security apparatus in the
state, intended to orchestrate breakdown of law and order, with the aim
of bolstering a State of Emergency, by a group of persons …
“On 3 May, 2013, first stage of their plan had commenced with the
sealing off and besieging of the Obio/Akpor Local Government council
secretariat and the clampdown on the offices of the council by the
Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu through the
instrumentality of the Divisional Police Officer, Rumuokoro Police
Station, without any valid instrument of law and without any security
breach or semblance of same.
“On 6 May, 2013, the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, which is
directly adjacent to the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, witnessed a
violent and disruptive takeover by 300 hoodlums under the watchful eyes
of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
“Your Excellency Sir, we fear for the survival of our democratic
structures and the freedom to carry out our legitimate legislative
duties have been greatly hindered and interrupted.
“We make bold to say that we now live in uncertain times; security of
lives and properties can no longer be guaranteed in Rivers State as a
result of these chronicled events in a state that has just regained its
peaceful status from the recent past from being the hotbed of cultism
and kidnapping.
“Silence over this planned and calculated destabilisation of security
apparatus in Rivers State is an ‘evil wind’ that will blow no one no
good and is capable of contributing to fostering anarchy on the Nigeria
Stateline, especially when those charged with upholding the law, ignore
and conspire to undermine it, unmindful of the implications.
“Consequently sir, we are left with no other option but to restate
our avowed resolve to call for the redeployment of the Commissioner of
Police Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
“We equally call on Mr. President to intervene in the ongoing
imbroglio that is about destroying the very fabrics that hold the
society (our state) together.”
source: the nation
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