The South-South Elders and Stakeholders on Wednesday called on the Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi to resign his membership of the People’s Democratic Party or it would compel the party to expel him in order to bring sanity to the party.
The group in a press conference in Abuja, said that the South South Elders find it difficult to understand why some Nigerians decided to fan the embers of disrespect, arrogance and absolute insolence of Governor Amaechi.
The Vice President of the group, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkenga queried the basis of the meddlesomeness of some northern governors and Professors in the internal crisis of Rivers State.
The former military administrator of Akwa Ibom state said that Governor Amaechi has defied decency and common sense to cast aspersions on the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as being responsible for the crises in Rivers state.
“We would like to state that nobody in Nigeria has greater stake in the present political squabbles in Rivers state than the people of the South South. Beyond those on Governor Amaechi’s payroll how many prominent Rivers chiefs and elders have Nigerians heard singing discordant tunes with those fighting against him?
“We are shocked that Governor Amaechi did not only march to the chambers of the Assembly against the advice of security chiefs but further ordered his loyal members, the CSO and ADC to brutalize the opposition members to his watchful admiration.
“Where does Governor Amaechi derive moral creed to accuse President Jonathan of being a dictatorial and authoritarian? Is he not the same governor whom the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State, Mr. Mbu had described as dictatorial long before the Rivers state crisis degenerated?
“It is our position that Amaechi shall not continue the charade of blaming President Jonathan and his wife over internal crisis in his state. He should reflect on his memorable journey thus far and learn to be humble before God.
“No party leader, including those presently manipulating Amaechi can tolerate the high level of insubordination and disrespect he has continually flaunted. We therefore advise Governor Amaechi to resign honorably from his party to wage his war of acrimony against the leadership of the party. Failing that, we call on the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take the stringent measures to expel him to bring sanity to the party and to serve as deterrent to other renegade members.
“As democrats, we believe that power belongs to the people who are custodians of sovereignty . Therefore the emergence or otherwise of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 should he decide to contest shall be the determinate responsibility of Nigerians.
“We, therefore, wish to caution that Nigerians, particularly those in authority should guard their utterances and actions to avoid over-heating the polity. The South South will hold any such persons wholly responsible should their overheating vituperations serve as a conductor to derail our hard won democracy particularly at this time when a son of the South South is privileged by the blessings of God and Nigerians to provide leadership.”
Speaking on the several moves of the group to reconcile both Amaechi and President Jonathan, a member of the group and foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark said that he had personally made frantic efforts to seek audience with Amaechi but he (Amaechi) has always absent himself from such meetings.
“When the trouble started, we know it will escalate, I had discussion with elders of Rivers State and we agreed to have a meeting with Amaechi but he did not show up.
“We have called several meeting which he did not attend, he is not picking my calls again, we have done everything to settle this matter, Amaechi is being used by people who want to destabilize this nation.”