The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe recently remarked that there is no actual crises in Rivers state. He also slammed the activities of four Northern Governors namely Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) for their ‘solidarity’ visit to Rotimi Amaechi recently which he claimed was capable of heating up the polity.
Okupe said the visit indicated that the governors were “more interested in political maneuvering and grandstanding at the expense of the well-being of the people in their states and the stability of the nation at large.”
He added, “We therefore admonish governors having serious issues with their party to take advantage of various channels within the party machinery to resolve it. Also, they may first of all try to show good example of their commitment to peace by working to put their own house in order through restoration of peace and consensus within the NGF.
“While we note their current political moves, they should be mindful that in all they do as political leaders, they ought to put the interest of the nation and our democracy first. This indeed, is the hallmark of true patriotism.”
Okupe said there an indication of the peace in Rivers is the fact that Amaechi is currently embarking on a foreign .
He said, “A pointer to the prevailing peace in the state is the fact that Governor Amaechi, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state, felt confident enough to travel to the United Kingdom on official assignment.
“It is doubtful he would have had the luxury of leaving the country if his state is in turmoil as is being canvassed.
“Developments in Rivers State do not pose any threat to our democracy. Our democracy remains robust, alive and well.
“In politics as in every sphere of human activity, different shades of opinion on issues are not uncommon within the polity but often get resolved either politically or through legal channels.
“It is therefore disingenuous for anyone to suggest that the political disagreement in Rivers State would imperil and ultimately derail our democracy.
“We recall that in Ogun State in 2010 after a series of sustained fracas and attempts at impeachment and counter-impeachment, the Inspector-General of Police locked up the House of Assembly for several months.
“In all that time, nobody in the whole country suggested that the situation was a threat to our nascent democracy, and no state governor went on any solidarity visit.”