Despite several denials, the Presidency on Tuesday resumed its interference in Rivers State politics. Jittery over the scheduled solidarity visit of four PDP governors to Rivers State, the Presidency in cahoots with the state chapter of the People Democratic Party, with Nyeson Wike as arrow head have mobilized miscreant to disrupt the visit.
Eyewitnesses reveal that the paid thugs have blocked the exit to the Port Harcourt International Airport, thus preventing Gov. Rotimi Amaechi and his visitors from leaving the airport.
However, Police commissioner Mbu and his men are indifferent, and have refused to dispel the crowd, saying, “the airport is a public place for everyone to visit.”
A statement issued by Ibim Semenitari, Rivers State Commisssioner of Information and Communications, reads:“There were jitters in the presidency over the visit of governors of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger to Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt, today Tuesday 16, 2013. Members of the Nyesom Wike’s campaign organisation Grassroot Democratic Initiative GDI, had mobilised hoodlums to disrupt the visit. Chanting solidarity songs in favour of the presidency attempted to attack Governor Amaechi and his team.
Wike had boasted after the failed impeachment attempt at the Rivers State House of Assembly that he would set Rivers State ablaze and render it ungovernable.
A four litre keg suspected to contain some acid was found beside the mob. Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu denied knowledge of the mob’s presence although the police stated that the airport is a public place and everyone has a right to visit freely and unhindered. This protends grave danger and has far reaching implications for our fledgling democracy.”
Asked about Tuesday morning`s chaos, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said, “it was a “peaceful” protest, with Wike and PDP supporters “singing and dancing,” to show that they were not happy with the visit of the governors from the North.”
Among the governors who visited Rivers State on Tuesday are those of Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa and Niger.