Princewill Condemns Ibim Semenitari's Vitriolic Attack on him and Threat to Life

Prince Tonye Princewill has condemned in strong terms the vitriolic attack

against him and the threat to his life by the Commissioner of Information

in Rivers State Ibim Semenetari during today's Rhythm 93.7, viewpoint

programme – a news, interview, phone-in and current affairs programme.

In a statement this evening of 8th Feb. 2014, Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu,

Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to Princewill said, “In a recent

interview on Viewpoint, Prince Tonye articulated his view on the Rivers

crisis and tried to share with Rivers people the reason why the current

attempts to paint the President black were not only disingenuous but not in

the interest of Rivers people. He went further to highlight that his

disagreement with the Governor was not personal but based on the principle

of calling a spade a spade, and just as he had often commended him for the

good works he had done, he would also chastise him whenever he did not.

That applies to his recent position”.
The full text of the Press release reads:
“This has been his consistent theme in Rivers state. When the Governor said

that all our militants were criminals, he disagreed; when he celebrated the

building of schools and hospitals, the Prince suggested we wait first wait

for full functionality; when the Governor decided to buy a new plane, he

protested. He didn't stop there. When the Governor decided to be the

spokesperson for the opposition while in PDP, Tonye advised against it, and

when he decided to sack the Obio Akpor council, again the Prince said it

was wrong. In all cases he told him privately before saying it publicly -

for the record.
“That is why the vitriolic attack by Ibim Semenitari on this Saturday's

viewpoint programme was most unfortunate and embarrassing to us as Rivers

people. The Prince's recent stand not to move to APC and not to fight the

President should not warrant the kind of response it is getting from a

whole government spokesperson, who really should be busy doing several

other things. Nothing the Prince has said has directed personal attacks at

anyone in Rivers state Government. What was she thinking?

“A prominent Niger Delta activist called the Prince recently to tell him

that he had been threatened by someone very high up in Rivers state

government for something he was supposed to have said and that he the

Prince had been mentioned within the threat as well. Before now, we would

have laughed it off as ridiculous but after today's interview, we are not

so sure. Such a vicious attack today on radio from a lady who we had

previously viewed with high regard only suggests that this crisis has

brought out the worst in our government leaders. Tolerance has been thrown

out the window and criticism is no longer heard even if it is constructive.

Just like our friend Tony Uranta, the Prince must now live in fear of his

life.
“We have since tabled documents before Rhythm 93.7, and reacted for the

records to demonstrate the truth in the Prince's comments and the holes in

hers. While we await her evidence to back her claims, the issue no doubt

will be the subject of legal proceedings so that Rivers people can see for

themselves who is really telling the truth. In addition to legal advice we

have also taken other advice and written to the IG and the Director, SSS.

We feel prompted to do so because people who are prepared to go to this

length to smear your character don't mean well for you. An angry man

is a threat.
An angry government has an ability to carry out that threat.

“Claiming that the Prince is angry because the Governor took contracts away

from him trivializes the situation and is akin to clutching at straws. What

a coincidence she comes out now on the same program barely a week after his

public opposition to Rivers State Government's anti Johnathan stance.

Rather than the waste management contract or any other contract taken from

him; it is clear from the documents below that it is the Commissioner of

Information that has sought to misinform.
“This is just the beginning”.
The link to Prince Tonye Princewill's interview: