In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ruben Abati, President Jonathan urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and all other political gladiators in the state to put the interests of the state and the nation above their personal egos and ambitions that seem to have gotten in the way of their expected commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and good governance.
The President called on all those who were remotely or directly involved in heightening political tension in Rivers State to put an immediate end to their actions which are capable of plunging Rivers State into public disorder and strive to settle their political differences without further recourse to barbaric acts of violence.
He said he expects all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, irrespective of their current affiliations or loyalties, to comport themselves with greater restraint while efforts continue to resolve existing differences and restore internal harmony to the state branch of the party.
The statement added, “the Presidency has also noted with regret the continuing attempts by some individuals and groups to place responsibility for the unpleasant developments in Rivers State on President Jonathan.”
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has heaped the blame for the crisis in Rivers State on President Jonathan and asked the National Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against him for failing to live up to his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr Abati’s statement however said, “We are constrained to state once again that there is absolutely no factual basis for suggestions that some of the politicians involved in the current dispute are acting at the behest of the President.
“President Jonathan certainly did not instigate the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly and as President of the nation; he will never support any actions that negate his avowed commitment to the rule of law. The President will also never violate his oath of office to always defend the Nigerian Constitution.”
Recall that on Tuesday morning the sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly was disrupted when hoodlums and some members attacked the principal officers of the house, with an assortment of weapons.
The house which adjourned sine die for some weeks now, in the wake of the political crisis between Governor Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan’s pointsmen in the state, re-opened this morning at about 9.45 a.m.
Proceedings have barely started when some members, said to belong to the G5 minority group, arrived with some hoodlums and started beating up the majority leader of the house, Chidi Lloyd with sticks, microphone and camera stands and any object that could serve as cudgels.
The Speaker of the house, Otelemaba Amachree was similarly attacked and the mace broken.
Source: ChannelsTV
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