Rivers Crisis: 8 APC Governors Visit Amaechi Eight governors of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday paid a solidarity visit to Rivers State governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in Port Harcourt. Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amuson (Ogun) were there. Also, governors Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Tanko Al-Makura (Nassarawa) were represented by their deputies, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, Eze Madumere and Dameshi Bama Luka respectively. LEADERSHIP gathered that, on their arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, the governors moved straight to Government House, Port Harcourt, and went into a closed-door meeting with Amaechi. Speaking to newsmen later, Governor Fayemi said the opposition governors were worried over recent developments in the state, hence their visit to show support and solidarity to Amaechi. Fayemi said, “We are here in support and solidarity with the governor, the government, and the people of Rivers State in these very challenging times. We are concerned as fellow governors representing our governments from all the states you can see here. “We are here because we think security for us is far more of the major concern to the people of Nigeria. Our being here is just to stress the importance of our concern for the security of the citizens of Rivers State.” He called on President Goodluck Jonathan and the inspector-general of police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to help in restoring the confidence of the people of Rivers State in the police, saying that the confidence of the people in the police service in the state had been greatly diminished. The governor said: “In our deliberation with Amaechi, we thought it was important for the hierarchy of our police authority, the inspector-general of police, to help in restoring the confidence of the people of Rivers State that has really been greatly diminished in the police service and the command here in Rivers State. “We believe that the inspector-general is very well placed to help take the necessary steps to restore the confidence of the government, of the governor and of the people, in the police in Rivers State and every step that is critical to making that possible, we believe, the inspector-general should take. “For us, we believe that this is a matter that really requires the moral authority of Mr President as well. It is about deepening this democracy; it is about ensuring that peace reigns, not just in Rivers State but in the whole country. The tension in Rivers State is entirely avoidable and we want all parties to sheathe their swords and help to restore peace and security of our state here. Also, deputy governor Alhaji Wakkala advised Amaechi to meet President Jonathan so as to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the state. He said, “We advised Governor Amaechi that he should meet with the president to discuss with him so that we can find a way out of this crisis, which is avoidable. We believe that by his meeting with the president actually, we will find a way of resolving this crisis and restoring peace in Rivers State to sustain the democracy in Nigeria.” Thousands of Rivers States indigenes yesterday trooped out at the Port Harcourt International Airport to welcome the eight APC governors who came to pay solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi. The people, who were at the airport as early as 8 am, sang and danced before the arrival of the APC governors, who immediately moved straight to Government House, Port Harcourt, in company of their host (Amaechi).
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:40:15 +0000