…Accuses PDP of turning state into anarchy
…Reveals pressure on Wike to join APC

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Rivers state All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee, has pleaded with the national leadership of the party, the National Working Committee (NWC), to join it in defending its State Assembly members against the maltreatment melted on them by the state government.

Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Tony Okocha, made the appeal at a press conference held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the state chapter of the party has also concluded arrangements to petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) to sanction the judge who gave what he described as jankara order against its members.

Okocha emphasised that though he is not a member of the State Assembly, however impeachment is permitted in a democratic setting, adding that impeachment is not a coup detat.

He also disclosed that party leaders and members have been pressurising the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to cross over the Mediterranean and help them.

On their mission to the headquarters of the party, Okocha said: “We want to appeal to our party to join us to defend our members who are being ill-treated by the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

“Today, APC is in overwhelming majority in the Rivers State House of Assembly having 27 out of the 32 members. This is in line with the mandate of the National Chairman who charged us to reach out even to members of the opposition political parties.

“You are also aware of the events in the state where the state government adopted the act of barbarism to demolish the State House of Assembly Complex. Recall that before the events of Wednesday, two members of the PDP were laying claims to the position of the Speaker of the Assembly.

“One Edison Ehie approached the High Court and we are all aware of the position of the Supreme Court on the motions. We will fight the illegality, we will not allow illegality to fester in our state. It is our duty now to defend my our 27 members who are members of the State Assembly.

“We are telling the governor that he cannot thrive on illegality. We will petition the judge before the NJC for giving that jankara order against our members,” he said.

On the possibilities of Wike joining APC anytime soon, he said: “I have wooed Wike personally, we have told him publicly to come over to Mediterranean and help us. He is a political juggernaut not just in Rivers but in Nigeria at large. He is a force and that is why we won the presidential election after losing the three senatorial seats and all the State House of Assembly members.”

Reacting further to the demolition of the State Assembly complex, the state caretaker committee boss, said: “You cannot place something on nothing and you expect it to stand. And illegality is illegality. Let me also let you know that what makes an Assembly is not the structure, but the human beings in that Assembly.

“So, an Assembly can be moved to anywhere provided the mace which is the symbol of authority is there. As at Wednesday, about 27 members sat and took the far-reaching decisionn on state matters. You will see all of them signed underneath those decisions.

“But, I tell you a thing, I read a philosopher called Frank Fano, he said the gift you give to an intransigent government is civil disobedience. He also said that it is unthinkable love disobedience before the law. So, there is a case of anarchy. And it is within the ambit of the PDP.

“It is not like we have a breakdown of law and order. But, this is an internal wrangling in PDP. That they are moving and being allowed to be taken to the centre stage. I had warned the governor or rather advise him. I told him that he opening his flanks to the fifth columnist. And they will feast.

“This same fifth columnists that will come to feast will be the ones that will be singing your praises. And today, he has left governance completely and begins to chase shadows. Those infrastructural developments that Rivers state is noted for has begin to atrophied.

“They are roting away, including projects that the former governor has completed up to 100 per cent and he left it for him to come and commission. He is unable to do anything and he is just after and chasing the mouse even when his house is burning.

“So there is complete lack of government and governance in Rivers State. And APC being a party now in opposition will not allow it,” he warned.