FORMER head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, on Thursday, charged President Goodluck Jonathan and the Rivers State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to close ranks in the interest of peace in Rivers State.
Gowon’s call for truce came as President Jonathan expressed his frustration over the political situation in Rivers which, he said, was not in the interest of anybody, even as Governor Amaechi demanded that social justice be allowed to prevail.
The trio spoke on Thursday, at a symposium held as part of the Port Harcourt City Centenary Celebration, in Port Harcourt.
Before the president and the governor took the podium at their separate time to speak, the former head of state, who was chairman on the occasion, had proposed an end to the intractable feud between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi, while he charged them to share a sincere handshake in the spirit of the centenary celebration.
Gowon, who coincidentally created Rivers as a state in 1967, said he would look forward to such a time when he could get the president, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas and Governor Amaechi to sit together and get their differences sorted out.
He observed that the relationship between the two personalities would negatively affect the health of Rivers State, which, in turn, would impact the entire nation.
“If any part of our land is not at peace, everyone will suffer the consequence at one time or the other, just like the problem we are now having in the north-eastern part of our country, the Boko Haram problem.
“It is in this regard that I especially commend Mr President for making out time to attend this event, which is a great opportunity at celebrating a proud heritage while mending fences and rebuilding bridges.
“In the same vein, I’ll like to appreciate Governor Amaechi whose handshake we had hoped with Mr President, if not today, I hope sooner than later, will not be merely ceremonial courtesy, to fulfil all righteousness, but I hope it is something that will happen. It may not happen today, but my hope is it will be sooner than later.
“For the records, I would not have attended this event. I had the reason to believe that the possibility of brokering peace between the key leaders of thought had been foreclosed. Even with his absence, it is not foreclosed,” Gowon said.
In his speech, President Jonathan, who had taken time to reel out various individuals of Port Harcourt background, who had in various ways affected the history of Nigeria, lamented the political bickering setting back the pace of peace in the state.
The president, who expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring the continued development of Port Harcourt city, said the recent political development in the state had heated up the polity.
“Even as we celebrate, I have observed with pains that the struggle for political space in recent times is creating unnecessary tension in this city, which has served all of us well.
“I believe that this is not the best that Port Harcourt deserves. We can all, as fathers, mothers and leaders, do more to intervene and help douse the fire of partisan differences, in order to preserve the peaceful glory of Port Harcourt. This city will always be home for me and I believe for millions of others as well,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Governor Amaechi said he was ready to support the president in his assignment to lead Nigeria, but noted that peace would only be born when there was social justice for the people.
“I thank you former head of state for accepting to come. I had thought that Mr President would come, so that we can also thank him for his own contribution in the development of Rivers State, but unfortunately he’s not here.
“Former head of state, I don’t see you as former head of state alone, I see you as a father. It will be difficult to refuse you what you asked for, but I’m a Catholic, if you see any catholic priest, ask him; the church does not preach peace, the church preaches social justice.
“If social justice is put in place, what happens? Peace will come. So there’s no disagreement between the president and I. I respect him as my president, I respect the fact that he’s an intellectual, I respect the fact that God has blessed him to get to that throne, as nobody can get to that throne without the blessing of God and disrespect to that office is disrespect to God. I was told that by my priests and my bishops.
“But I was also told that you cannot watch oppression because if you watch oppression, you will die and the prayer I had this morning was Lord, what would it benefit you if I die, who would praise you? So keep me alive to be able to praise you. That was my prayer to God today.”
“On behalf of these Rivers people, I also ask for social justice. I believe that the president means well. I believe that the country has so many problems that he has to bear, but I support him to continue to govern the country,” he said.
Source: Tribune
