Rivers PDP Factionalization : Princwill Political Associates(PPA) Backs Amaechi

Joe Ezuma
Port Harcourt
The Princwill Political Associates (PPA) and an ally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers and whose leader , Prince Tonye Princewill rejoined the PDP with Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has thrown its weight behind the Rivers State government in its stand that there is not factionalization in the Party in the state.

PPA rather accused those causing fissures in the party of nursing the predilection for embezzling public fund which the government had resisted.

Peoples Daily investigations revealed that since the resurgence of the Odili/Omehia/Sekibo group in the state poltics throw their frequent appearances and increase in their political activities, the existence of faction in the party had become issue of public discussion.

The idea of faction became more pronounced with the frequent issuance of press statements by Mr Jerry Needam , a member of the Odili /Omehia group which had come to be know as the Abuja PDP, as the publicity secretary of PDP , Riversand the unedifying silence from the home based PDP.

The climax was the arrest of 12 members of the party who are currently standing trial for criminal offences .

But Governor Chibuike Amaechi, PDP Leader in the state ,reacting to this insinuation, last week , said that there was not faction in the state , emphasising that the only PDP in the state is the one he leads and of which Chief Godspower Ake is the chairman. The governor further accused some elements within the state PDP of pressuring him to share public funds.

Reinforcing governor ment stand that their was not faction in the state PDP on Monday, the PPA stated in a statement by its media consultant , Dr Eze C Eze that it could not remain silence while some elements in the party continue to misrepresent facts and misinform the public .

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The body stated that contrary to all these insinuations ''PDP in Rivers State is not only intact but more united,

vibrant, virile and ready to make a statement to its Abuja based counterparts and the entire members of PDP Worldwide when the need arises''.

It emphasized that PDP in Rivers State still has one central leadership

with Gov Chibuike Amaechi as Leader and Chief Godspower U. Ake as

Chairman.

The statement read in part :''We have read different reports and permutations about the current

political developments in Rivers State that led to the arrest of some self

acclaimed PDP Chieftains and have decided to put the record straight.''For the fact that some misguided elements decided to rent nother place instead of the PDP State Secretariat does not in our opinion, constitute fractionalization of the party in the State.

''The picture being presented beforethe public is that PDP in Rivers State is factionalized into two segmentswith one segment being controlled by Gov Amaechi and the other controlled by some politicians of Rivers extraction based in Abuja,'' pointing out tht the fact that some elements went and rented a house to conduct a meeting does not constitute a faction .

PPA urged Chibuike Amaechi not to be cowed,
intimidated or discouraged by ''the antics of those that does not wish

the State well and continue with his efforts to improve and move the State

forward as we urge all and sundry to join hands with Amaechi to move the

State forward''.(END)