Governors' convoy attacked in Rivers violence

Protest as Amaechi hosts Aliyu, Nyako, Lamido, Kwankwaso Chaos reigned supreme at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State on Tuesday as the political face off between Rotimi Ameachi and Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike took again took violent turn.

Thousands  of youths  believed to be loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, reportedly threw stones and other objects at the convoy of the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Vehicles in the convoy were conveying four northern governors - Sule Lamido (Jigawa);  Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger);  and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) -  who were  on a solidarity visit to Amaechi.

A bus in which some commissioners in the state were seated in was said to have had its windscreen smashed by the protesters.

About 7,000 supporters of Wike, under the aegis of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, moved to the airport as early as 7 am, protesting against the governors' visit.

 
Some of the placards by Wike's supporters read: 'Northern governors should concentrate on Boko Haram'; 'Amaechi not elected Rivers governor to be NGF Chairman'; 'Nyako and co, leave our resources alone'; 'Soyinka, face Southwest' and 'Aliyu and others in Rivers State to cause confusion.'

The Police Command, led by Johnson Oni, soldiers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) prevented the breakdown of law and order.

The minister, who intends to succeed Amaechi in 2015, is the grand patron of GDI.

Wike's loyalists were confronted by Amaechi's supporters at the parking lot of the airport, with missiles flying and people scampering to safety.

Information Commissioner Ibim Semenitari said: 'There were jitters in the Presidency over the visit of governors of Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger to Rivers State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt today (yesterday).

'Members of the Nyesom Wike's campaign organisation, GDI, had mobilised hoodlums to disrupt the visit, chanting solidarity songs in favour of the Presidency and attempted to attack Governor Amaechi and his team.

'Wike had boasted after the failed impeachment attempt at the Rivers State House of Assembly that he would set Rivers State ablaze and render it ungovernable. A four-litre keg, suspected to contain some acid, was found beside the mob.

'Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu denied knowledge of the mob's presence. Although the police stated that the airport is a public place and everyone has a right to visit freely and unhindered.

'This portends grave danger and has far-reaching implications for our fledgling democracy.'

Trouble,however, began when the governors were about leaving the VIP lounge for a journey to the Government House in Port Harcourt. The anti-Amaechi  protesters  moved en masse to block the governors from moving further  but were dispersed by an  Armoured Personnel Carrier, which was part of Amaechi's convoy.

At that point, the  governors were able to enter a vehicle that immediately left the vicinity but  some vehicles in the convoy were said to have been hit by stones and other objects  thrown by the protesters.

One of Amaechi's drivers, according to a source, was said to have received two punches on his face.

Reacting to the incident, the GDI Secretary-General, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, described the protest as peaceful and successful.

He pointed out that the people of the state were not comfortable with the coming of the northern governors to the state.

Nwanosike said, 'There was a peaceful protest at the airport today. Rivers people are not happy with the visit of the northern governors to our state.   They should stay in their states because Rivers people can solve their political problems by themselves.

'We were about 7,000 protesting. We don't want them (northern governors) to import Boko Haram to Rivers State.'

The youths' position on the visit was backed by the  Peoples Democratic Party in  the state, which said it was 'meant to aggravate the political crisis in the state.'

The Media Adviser to the state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Jerry Needam, said in a statement  that it was wrong for the   governors to abandon their states in order to pay Amaechi a solidarity visit.

He said,  'It is the likes of these visitors that   are encouraging Amaechi not to have regard for the Rivers people, elders and constituted authorities in the state.'

On the inauguration of an eight-member Judicial Commission   to look into the crisis in the  House of Assembly, Needam described Amaechi as a principal actor, who should not be a  judge in his own case.

He said, 'Amaechi can't be a judge in his own case. Amaechi is a principal suspect in the matter. Above all, the matter is before the Senate. The Senate will give its report on Wednesday (today).

'His action is pre-empting the decision of the Senate Committee on States and Local governments. It is a shame that Amaechi will go to  this length in his desperate quest for power.'

Meanwhile,  the four  governors , who visited the state  have threatened to  stop funding the police if the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, was not redeployed.

In a statement shortly after  their meeting with  Amaechi, they warned that with officers like  Joseph Mbu, still in the force, they were not going to fund an antagonistic police.

They  also pointed out that the call for a state police as a constitutional provision had become necessary following the actions of the police and Mbu in the State House of Assembly fracas.

Calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to redeploy and discipline Mbu, the northern governors described the  police  action as unprofessional and  partisan.

They said, 'We wish to call on the  IG to hearken to the voice of  reason and immediately redeploy and discipline   Mbu. His actions smack of unprofessional conduct and  partisanship unbecoming of  his office.

'With the way the police are  being used and abused and with officers like Mbu ,  we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic police and we  may be forced to reconsider our financial contributions    towards  the Nigeria Police.'

They noted that recent developments in Rivers State had brought to the fore, the question of true federalism and the need for institutions to be allowed to perform without undue interference.

'As federating units, we must be allowed the space to guarantee our people's sustainable development as provided by the constitution,' the governors said.

They justified their visit, saying  it was  to ascertain the information made available to them through the media. The governors described the events in the state as threats to peace, security and democracy.