Rivers: Presidency, APC in war of words

Interim National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed

The Presidency and the All Progressives Congress on Sunday engaged in a war of words over the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.

The APC had in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused the Presidency of direct involvement in the crisis.

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said it was the APC that was to be blamed for instigating the crisis to give an impression that the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Ameachi, was still popular among the people.

The exchange came after an APC statement blaming the Presidency for the violent disruption of another rally by the Save Rivers Group, in Bori, Khana Local Government on Sunday.

The APC insisted that the Presidency was responsible for the violence in the state.

Mohammed had appealed to Nigerians and the international community to caution President Goodluck Jonathan.

The APC’s statement reads in part, “As the Presidency-backed impunity in Rivers worsens, we at the APC are left with no choice but to alert all well-meaning Nigerians as well as the international community to call President Jonathan to order, since he has refused to allow peace to reign in the state just because of his personal ambition.”

The party said it would continue to cry out with the hope that reason would prevail and that “President Jonathan will no longer allow his ambition to be watered by the blood of the same citizens he swore an oath to protect.”

Reacting to the allegations leveled against the Presidency, Gulak said the APC and not the President was behind the political crisis.

Gulak said security personnel were on top of the situation in Rivers State.

Gulak said, “It is the APC that is putting fire in Rivers State, not President Jonathan.

“They want to precipitate crisis in order to confuse Nigerians that Amaechi is in control. People have since left Amaechi. Security personnel are on top of the situation in the state and they know who is responsible for the crisis.”