Despite his move, along with some other governors, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that his respect for President Goodluck Jonathan has not diminished.
Governor Amaechi’s move to the APC was, however, described by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its own vindication as regards the several alarms it had raised over the relationship between the governor and the opposition elements over the last few months.
Governor Amaechi, while responding to questions by journalists, said he took the decision to move to the APC with the view of protecting the interests of the people of Rivers State, noting that the Federal Government, under the control of the PDP had treated Rivers people unfairly.
The governor also said his leaving the party did not mean he had any problem with President Jonathan, pointing out that despite his move, President Jonathan is still his president, whom he respects for many reasons.
“The President and I have no personal quarrel, it’s important we put that in perspective. All the issues were issues that affect Rivers people, were issues that affect Nigerians and I am a Nigerian, I have to address those issues…he is my President and I respect him. I respect his office, respect him as a person, respect the fact that he is older but then as an elected governor of Rivers State, I have the responsibility to lead Rivers State.
“Rivers State must know that for me to have taken that decision, I had looked at the general interests of Rivers people. I was not elected to lead Nigeria, I was elected to lead Rivers State and I have looked at the interests of Rivers people and have seen that these interests were not protected in PDP. I have seen the fact that we are losing our oil wells in Etche, in the Kalabari areas and that the more they continue to pilfer these oil wells, the more we will continue to lose our wealth.
“If you look at what is going on, the Federal Government is not able to fund the states anymore. They say oil theft but oil theft is not enough reason for which we cannot fund ourselves.
“The governors met on Monday and decided that we must meet with the APC leadership and when we met with the APC leadership, it was important we took a position and the position we took is for the good of our democracy and to ensure that Nigeria moves forward. We can’t continue the way we are. The picture painted by the PDP was as if we were begging to come back to PDP and issues were not being looked into, issues were not being resolved and it’s important that we resolve it one way or the other,” he said.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP in the state has put machinery in motion to celebrate the move of the governor and his supporters from the party to the APC, organising a thanksgiving service to that effect.
Chairman of the party in the state, Felix Obuah, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said the governor’s exit would allow the party put itself together in preparation for the 2015 general election in the state.
The party, however, warned that it would not hesitate to discipline any member of the party in the state involved in anti-party activities, advising members not to be lured into the APC.
“It’s now clear to all doubting Thomases that we were not just crying wolf as there is no smoke without fire.
“First, it was a group of northern governors led by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, closely followed by Professor Wole Soyinka and his team, and thereafter, the APC chieftains.
“Even in the face of all this, Governor Amaechi never admitted that he had anything to do with any party other than the PDP.
“Subsequently, we will intimate you of our thanksgiving service for the exit of Amaechi. A committee to that effect will be inaugurated shortly,” he said.
Source: Tribune
