Amaechi: No room for indiscipline in PDP, says Jonathan
President Jonathan has said that the Peoples Democratic Party will no longer condone indiscipline from its members.
The president told Rivers PDP delegation met with him Aso Rock Villa on Thursday it was wrong for anybody to be in a party and working against its interests.
Although the president did not mention Amaechi by name, referebces he made were obviously pointed.
The President said, 'Rivers State is a key state to Southeasterners. It is a key state that needs very strong, focused, committed leadership and maximum political unity and stability. Otherwise, anything could happen and affect the whole country.
'For us to have a stable democracy, we have to have a strong political party. And that is why we get worried when we notice some of the indiscipline in some of the political parties. And the new PDP that we are all working together for will no longer tolerate indiscipline.
'All over the world, parties are supposed to build on ideological differences. These may be close. If you look at the classical case of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) that were created by the military, their ideologies were a little to the right and a little to the left.
'That is the essence of politics. But, in a situation where somebody is in a particular political party but his faith is in another political party… For those who are not holding political offices, yes you can excuse…But if you are holding an elective office, you won't be in that party and be working for another party. Otherwise, why are you there?'
Jonathan added: 'I have listened to the introductions and being a Rivers person, I know key political actors in Rivers State; the who's who in Rivers State; and they are here. I want to thank you for building this political structure for the state, for the interest of Rivers State and to position Rivers State in the politics of the country.
'To me, I have been working with people of Rivers State for quite some time before I got here. I have had a robust relationship with my brothers and sisters in Rivers State. They are very reliable people who I believe will not speak with both sides of their mouths.'
Former Rivers Governor, Dr. Peter Odili and the Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike led a delegation of elders and leaders of the state chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on a solidarity visit to President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock.
Among those who attended the meeting were the Acting National Deputy Chairman of PDP and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudum Nwuche, Uche Secondus, Austin Opkara, Senator Lee Maeba, Fred Kpakol, Ama Pepple, and Walter Opuene.
Others are former Transport Minister, Abiye Sekibo, Senator George Sekibo, Sergeant Awuse, Kenneth Kobani, Timothy Nsirim, Doris Fisher, Toru Ofili, Boma Iyaye, Evans Bipi, Hope Ikiriko, Vincent Nemieboka and Elemchukwu Ogbowu.
In his remarks during the meeting, copies of which was made available to journalists, Obuah said the party chiefs were pained that Amaechi had remained the main champion of opposition in the country against the President and the Federal Government.
He alleged that the governor had repeatedly rebuffed all efforts aimed at making him to show remorse and respect the President.
While apologising to Jonathan and his wife, Patience, on the governor's actions, Obuah said the people of the state were not with Amaechi in his hostile attitude towards the President.
He said, 'We are pained and our heart bleeds today that the main champion of opposition in the country against Mr. President is Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
'We do not know what has come over the young man. Is it that he wants to destabilise the PDP before his eventual movement to his new party, having been handed over the ACN/APC structure in Rivers State?'
Obuah said apart from showing disrespect to the President, the governor is also attacking the Nigeria Police because the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, is not doing his bidding.
In an interview with State House correspondents, Obuah however insisted that there was no crisis in the state chapter of the party.
On Amaechi's threat to leave the PDP, Obuah said nobody could stop the governor if he decides to leave.
Wike told journalists that the problem with Amaechi was because he did not have the party structure.
He said, 'That the governor does not have the party structure does not make him comfortable.'
On the situation in the state, Odili said, 'What is important is for us to recognise that at any point in time respect for authority, respect for the rule of law and discipline are the guiding principles that will make us run whatever system or societies we are running in an orderly, disciplined fashion.'
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, explained that it was wrong for Obuah to say that Amaechi was opposing the President of the country.
Semenitari maintained that Amaechi had always being in support of Jonathan and wondered why the state PDP chairman would accuse the governor of antagonising the President.
She said, 'I don't really know if Mr. Obuah really campaigned for the President. I hope that our memory is not short as the governor has always been there to support the President. Governor Amaechi is not opposed to Mr. President,' Semenitari said.