The Progressive Governors Forum has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of using his powers to bully Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. The governors stated this on Friday while reacting to the action of the armed policemen that blocked one of the gates leading to the Rivers State Government House on Thursday.
The governors in a statement titled, "Blockade to Rivers Government House: Assault on Constitution and Descent to Anarchy", said the incident was a direct affront on constitutional order. They said, "A situation whereby the Federal Government will use powers vested in it under the constitution to bully and intimidate state governments is unacceptable and should be resisted by every democratic government.
"We wish to unequivocally state our resolve to work with all democrats in the country to ensure adequate protection of democratic governance.''
The statement was signed by Borno State Governor, Kashim Shetima; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Almakura; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Geldam; and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari.
The governors' statement came just as some Nigerians condemned the action of the police authorities in Rivers and the police insisted that they did not bar the governor from accessing Government House.
The governors said the police action was a bad precedent and wondered if it was a signal that a similar blockade could be mounted against the President at the Presidential Villa.
The police had on Thursday stopped Amaechi from using the gate to gain entrance into the Government House. The governor was in company with 102 former speakers of state Houses of Assembly when a team of policemen allegedly drafted by the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, blocked the Forces Avenue which leads to the governor's house in the Government House.
However, the River State Police command also issued a statement yesterday saying they didn't block Amaechi from gaining access into the government house.
The statement reads, "The attention of the police command has been drawn to stories making the round in the media that the police blocked the road to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, denying His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Amaechi ,access to the Government House.
The police state categorically that they did not block the road leading to the Government House, neither did they deny Governor Rotimi Amaechi access to the Government House in Port Harcourt or elsewhere.
"The story is incorrect, false, fictitious and wrong in its entirety and it is calculated to mislead the people of Rivers State, Nigerians and the general public. The Nigeria Police Force deems it necessary to place in proper perspective the event that gave rise to the wrong information being peddled in the media.''
Hmmm... But we all saw a picture that looks like what Gov. Amaechi is claiming. Who is fooling who here?
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