Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on
Friday took on the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, for attributing the
crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly to her.
Friday took on the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, for attributing the
crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly to her.
In a statement by her spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, the
President’s wife said Soyinka betrayed the moral duty that expected him, as a
respected member of the society, to carefully consider all shades of issues
that informed his opinions on any matter.
President’s wife said Soyinka betrayed the moral duty that expected him, as a
respected member of the society, to carefully consider all shades of issues
that informed his opinions on any matter.
Mrs. Jonathan said Soyinka had become an
embarrassment to his admirers with his diatribe against her.
embarrassment to his admirers with his diatribe against her.
The statement read in part, “Unfortunately,
Soyinka betrayed moral duty in his recent diatribe against Mrs. Patience
Jonathan.
Soyinka betrayed moral duty in his recent diatribe against Mrs. Patience
Jonathan.
“Of course, this would not be the first time he
would reach out against the First Lady, usually from self-righteously indignant
lecterns.
would reach out against the First Lady, usually from self-righteously indignant
lecterns.
“In this particular instance, his verdict was
that Mrs. Jonathan was ‘stoking the crisis currently rocking her home state of
Rivers…’, and thereupon asked Mr. President to caution his wife.
that Mrs. Jonathan was ‘stoking the crisis currently rocking her home state of
Rivers…’, and thereupon asked Mr. President to caution his wife.
“The good, old Prof. reminds one of the truth
that indeed, most of the giants on the street are men of like passions like
everyone else. Worse still, most of them are actually standing on clay feet and
would fail the test of a gentle push.
that indeed, most of the giants on the street are men of like passions like
everyone else. Worse still, most of them are actually standing on clay feet and
would fail the test of a gentle push.
“Otherwise, who would have believed that the
social, civil, constitutional and sundry rights crusader Prof. would maintain a
safe distance from the heart of an activity that is a potential threat to the
peace, security and safety of the people of a state, then collect exaggerated
stories and jaundiced perspectives from familiar propagandists and character
assassins, and promptly summon the media to a “state of the nation” address.
social, civil, constitutional and sundry rights crusader Prof. would maintain a
safe distance from the heart of an activity that is a potential threat to the
peace, security and safety of the people of a state, then collect exaggerated
stories and jaundiced perspectives from familiar propagandists and character
assassins, and promptly summon the media to a “state of the nation” address.
“It’s an embarrassment to his throng of admirers
and followers, that a sage of Prof. Soyinka’s status, who used to be a gauge of
public morality in this nation, would lend himself to a propaganda of high
drive, to save a governor who elected to launch into a river without applicable
survival skills.”
and followers, that a sage of Prof. Soyinka’s status, who used to be a gauge of
public morality in this nation, would lend himself to a propaganda of high
drive, to save a governor who elected to launch into a river without applicable
survival skills.”
Mrs. Jonathan argued that the calculation was to
attack the President and pull to pieces anyone associated with him, as a
strategy for attracting public sympathy to the “clear underdog.”
attack the President and pull to pieces anyone associated with him, as a
strategy for attracting public sympathy to the “clear underdog.”
She said Soyinka was only contributing to the
project when he claimed that she was Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s problem.
project when he claimed that she was Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s problem.
In a related development, the Presidency on
Friday said Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State should be held responsible
for the fracas that broke out in the state House of Assembly on Tuesday.
Friday said Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State should be held responsible
for the fracas that broke out in the state House of Assembly on Tuesday.
Special Adviser to the President on Political
Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said this in an interview with State House correspondents
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said this in an interview with State House correspondents
at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gulak said it was erroneous for someone like the
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and opposition political parties to heap
the blame of the crisis on President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience,
when the governor himself was the one who instigated it.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and opposition political parties to heap
the blame of the crisis on President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience,
when the governor himself was the one who instigated it.
He said rather than being the mastermind, the
President was the victim of Amaechi’s alleged mischief.
President was the victim of Amaechi’s alleged mischief.
The presidential aide argued that the
disagreement among the state lawmakers would not have degenerated to that
extent if the governor had not gone to the premises contrary to the advice of
the state Commissioner of Police.
disagreement among the state lawmakers would not have degenerated to that
extent if the governor had not gone to the premises contrary to the advice of
the state Commissioner of Police.
He alleged that it was the presence of Amaechi
and his security aides that emboldened the Majority Leader and other lawmakers
loyal to him to beat the anti-Amaechi lawmakers as shown in the
widely-circulated video of the mayhem.
and his security aides that emboldened the Majority Leader and other lawmakers
loyal to him to beat the anti-Amaechi lawmakers as shown in the
widely-circulated video of the mayhem.
Gulak said, “It is mischief to say that the
President is behind the crisis in Rivers State. The President cannot be part of
the crisis in that state. He is a man of peace.
President is behind the crisis in Rivers State. The President cannot be part of
the crisis in that state. He is a man of peace.
“The problem in Rivers State is the internal
wrangling of the administration of the governor. It is sad that when there are
crises in the assembly, the governor will physically drive to the House of
Assembly to partake in the crises.
wrangling of the administration of the governor. It is sad that when there are
crises in the assembly, the governor will physically drive to the House of
Assembly to partake in the crises.
“The fact is that in this crisis in Rivers State,
the governor should be held responsible because if he did not go to the house
of assembly, those guys wouldn’t have been emboldened to beat people up.”
the governor should be held responsible because if he did not go to the house
of assembly, those guys wouldn’t have been emboldened to beat people up.”
Gulak said the Rivers crisis was not the first
time a crisis would be recorded in a state house of assembly.
time a crisis would be recorded in a state house of assembly.
Citing the example of Adamawa State, where the
assembly was shut for about three months because of a crisis, the presidential
aide said the governor did not appear physically in the assembly and yet the
crisis was resolved.
assembly was shut for about three months because of a crisis, the presidential
aide said the governor did not appear physically in the assembly and yet the
crisis was resolved.
He said the way out was for all parties to abide
by the constitution provision which provides for separation of power.
by the constitution provision which provides for separation of power.
Gulak observed that Soyinka made a public comment
on the matter out of ignorance.
on the matter out of ignorance.
He said, “Soyinka, without knowing the fact, just
went public to blame the President and his wife for what is happening in the
state. He is an elder statesman, I don’t want to take issues with him but I
will say that he should be responsible.
went public to blame the President and his wife for what is happening in the
state. He is an elder statesman, I don’t want to take issues with him but I
will say that he should be responsible.
“I am not aware of any plan to impeach the
governor and the President is not aware even if there are such plans. But what
I know is that the house of assembly intended to change their leadership,
rightly or wrongly, they have a constitutional right to do it if they have the
majority.
governor and the President is not aware even if there are such plans. But what
I know is that the house of assembly intended to change their leadership,
rightly or wrongly, they have a constitutional right to do it if they have the
majority.
Reacting to Gulak’s statement, the Chief Press
Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, described the President’s
aide as the “Wada Nas of our time, who should be ignored.”
Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, described the President’s
aide as the “Wada Nas of our time, who should be ignored.”
Iyofor dismissed Gulak’s claim that Amaechi was
responsible for the crisis in Rivers and maintained that the governor was not
the five lawmakers that attempted to impeach the Speaker.
responsible for the crisis in Rivers and maintained that the governor was not
the five lawmakers that attempted to impeach the Speaker.
“Gulak’s statement lacks the necessary logic. Was
Amaechi one of the five lawmakers who attempted to remove the Speaker in a
House of 32 members?
Amaechi one of the five lawmakers who attempted to remove the Speaker in a
House of 32 members?
“Was Amaechi responsible for shooting teargas
into the Government House? If Gulak does not know what to say, it is better for
him to keep quiet and allow peace to reign,” the governor’s media aide said.
into the Government House? If Gulak does not know what to say, it is better for
him to keep quiet and allow peace to reign,” the governor’s media aide said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Security Officer, Aide De
Camp and other security men attached to Amaechi may be dismissed from the
police force and the State Security Service.
Camp and other security men attached to Amaechi may be dismissed from the
police force and the State Security Service.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the dismissal
would be based on their level of involvement in the fracas that occurred in the
chambers of the state house of assembly on Tuesday.
would be based on their level of involvement in the fracas that occurred in the
chambers of the state house of assembly on Tuesday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed
Abubakar, had already set up an investigative panel headed by the Deputy
Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Philemon Leha, to probe
the political impasse in the state. It was learnt that the SSS was also
carrying out a similar investigation to determine the involvement of its
officers in the fracas.
Abubakar, had already set up an investigative panel headed by the Deputy
Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Philemon Leha, to probe
the political impasse in the state. It was learnt that the SSS was also
carrying out a similar investigation to determine the involvement of its
officers in the fracas.
A top security source said, “The conduct of the
policemen and other security officers is highly embarrassing to the police high
command and they will face disciplinary committees.
policemen and other security officers is highly embarrassing to the police high
command and they will face disciplinary committees.
“Any indicted officer, whether SSS or the police,
faces three types of punishment, including demotion and dismissal, which are
the highest forms of punishment they can get.”
faces three types of punishment, including demotion and dismissal, which are
the highest forms of punishment they can get.”
The Chairman of the Police Service Commission,
Sir Mike Okiro, has also expressed an interest in the matter.
Sir Mike Okiro, has also expressed an interest in the matter.
He has called for an urgent probe into the
involvement of policemen in the assault and battery of lawmakers, which was
aired on television.
involvement of policemen in the assault and battery of lawmakers, which was
aired on television.
Assistant Director (Information & Public
Relations), Police Service Commission, Ferdinand Ekpe, confirmed to Saturday
PUNCH that Okiro had directed that investigation should establish the
culpability or otherwise of the policemen in the incident.
Relations), Police Service Commission, Ferdinand Ekpe, confirmed to Saturday
PUNCH that Okiro had directed that investigation should establish the
culpability or otherwise of the policemen in the incident.
He said, “The Police Service Commission Chairman,
Sir Mike Okiro, as a Nigerian, watched the incident on television and he is
interested in the matter.
Sir Mike Okiro, as a Nigerian, watched the incident on television and he is
interested in the matter.
“He has directed that investigation into the
involvement of the policemen be sped up and the case should be brought to the
commission after it might have been handled by the Force Disciplinary
Committee.”
involvement of the policemen be sped up and the case should be brought to the
commission after it might have been handled by the Force Disciplinary
Committee.”
Findings indicated that the police high command
was embarrassed by the conduct of the policemen that were attached to the
governor for jumping into the fray between the pro and anti-Amaechi lawmakers.
was embarrassed by the conduct of the policemen that were attached to the
governor for jumping into the fray between the pro and anti-Amaechi lawmakers.
It was learnt that the policemen did not exhibit
professionalism and good judgment expected of senior officers working in a
politically-volatile environment.
professionalism and good judgment expected of senior officers working in a
politically-volatile environment.
The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank
Mba, said the panel set up by the IG would investigate the conduct of all the
policemen that were at the scene of the fracas and any one found to have
breached the police code of conduct would be punished.
Mba, said the panel set up by the IG would investigate the conduct of all the
policemen that were at the scene of the fracas and any one found to have
breached the police code of conduct would be punished.
“A policeman is a policeman everywhere, no matter
who you are working with. A governor has immunity but a policeman has no
immunity and if your conduct breaches the police code of conduct, you will not
be spared.
who you are working with. A governor has immunity but a policeman has no
immunity and if your conduct breaches the police code of conduct, you will not
be spared.
“Our investigation will focus on all the
policemen at the scene of the fracas and any indicted officer will be dealt
with accordingly. I don’t want to pre-empt the investigation panel, but the
fact remains that the police force will not condone any act of indiscipline,”
Mba stated.
policemen at the scene of the fracas and any indicted officer will be dealt
with accordingly. I don’t want to pre-empt the investigation panel, but the
fact remains that the police force will not condone any act of indiscipline,”
Mba stated.
Reacting to the move to dismiss the officers, the
Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, said the
police should bother to find out the circumstances that led to the beating of
the lawmaker by the police.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, said the
police should bother to find out the circumstances that led to the beating of
the lawmaker by the police.
Okocha explained that the ADC to the governor had
to defend his principal (Amaechi), who, one of the lawmakers instructed
somebody from the gallery to shoot.
to defend his principal (Amaechi), who, one of the lawmakers instructed
somebody from the gallery to shoot.
The governor, according to Okocha, informed the
state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph, about the crisis in the House of
Assembly.
state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph, about the crisis in the House of
Assembly.
“When the governor got there, one of the
lawmakers ordered that the governor should be shot. So, in that circumstance,
what would the governor’s ADC do?
lawmakers ordered that the governor should be shot. So, in that circumstance,
what would the governor’s ADC do?
“The ADC to the governor did what was expected of
him by defending his principal. The gallery was peopled by some youths with
guns. That is why I say the police should bother to consider the circumstances
that led to the ADC’s action.”
him by defending his principal. The gallery was peopled by some youths with
guns. That is why I say the police should bother to consider the circumstances
that led to the ADC’s action.”
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi, on Thursday, raised
the alarm that his life was in danger following the withdrawal of soldiers from
the Government House.
the alarm that his life was in danger following the withdrawal of soldiers from
the Government House.
The governor, who expressed surprise over the
development, said the soldiers were withdrawn without any prior information to
the Government House.
development, said the soldiers were withdrawn without any prior information to
the Government House.
Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief of Staff,
Mr. Tony Okocha, explained that with the withdrawal of some police personnel in
the past and the pulling out of soldiers, his security could no longer be
guaranteed as a governor.
Mr. Tony Okocha, explained that with the withdrawal of some police personnel in
the past and the pulling out of soldiers, his security could no longer be
guaranteed as a governor.
“The truth is that the governor’s life is in
danger and you know he has told the people of the state and Nigerians to
continue to pray for him. The battle is not about Amaechi, it is about
impunity, it is about harassment.
danger and you know he has told the people of the state and Nigerians to
continue to pray for him. The battle is not about Amaechi, it is about
impunity, it is about harassment.
“It is Amaechi today; it may be the turn of another
person tomorrow. That is why we are calling on Nigerians to speak out against
what is happening in the state,” he said.
person tomorrow. That is why we are calling on Nigerians to speak out against
what is happening in the state,” he said.
More than 24 hours after soldiers posted to the
Government House in Port Harcourt were withdrawn, a letter from the Nigerian
Army (2 Brigade, Port Harcourt) was sent to the state government to explain the
reason behind the action.
Government House in Port Harcourt were withdrawn, a letter from the Nigerian
Army (2 Brigade, Port Harcourt) was sent to the state government to explain the
reason behind the action.
The state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party, Mr. Dan Orbih, explained that though he would not subscribe to any
decision that would endanger the life of the governor, Amaechi did not take any
action when his (Amaechi) ADC and orderly beat up a lawmaker in the House of
Assembly complex.
Party, Mr. Dan Orbih, explained that though he would not subscribe to any
decision that would endanger the life of the governor, Amaechi did not take any
action when his (Amaechi) ADC and orderly beat up a lawmaker in the House of
Assembly complex.
Obuah, however, attributed the pulling out of the
soldiers from the Government House to the prevalence of young civilians
parading themselves as soldiers in order to oppress innocent people of the
state.
soldiers from the Government House to the prevalence of young civilians
parading themselves as soldiers in order to oppress innocent people of the
state.
Source: Punch
