Amaechi Raises Alarm Over Opposition's Antics To Set Their Houses Ablaze

The Chief of Staff (CoS), Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, alleged a plot by those fighting Governor Rotimi Amaechi to set their own houses ablaze and turn around to blame it on the state government.

He said the ploy was to pave the way for the declaration of state of emergency in the state.

Okocha’s allegation came a day after the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan Amachree alerted of a looming anarchy in the state.

In a telephone chat yesterday, Okocha also alleged that the anti-Amaechi politicians in the state have been moving their belongings out of their houses, preparatory to setting the houses of their perceived enemies ablaze.

According to him, the plot was to create tension and to illegally remove the governor.

Corroborating Okocha, a PDP chieftain and former member of the House of Representatives from the state, Igo Aguma, said Amaechi was being fought over his plan to return as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and his position on the 2015 governorship race in the state.

In a chat with reporters yesterday, Aguma, who is also an ex-Rivers Sports Commissioner, declared that the crisis involving Amaechi was “pure gang up” from Abuja.

The forum of chairmen of the PDP in the 23 local government areas of the state, led by Daere Samuel-Horsfal, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, urged the Chief Felix Obuah-led executive of the party to desist from further tarnishing the good image of the party.

The CoS said: “The information reaching us right now is to the effect that some enemies of Rivers State are planning so many things to cause tension in the state. We have it on good authority that so many of them are carting away properties from their respective homes and to set the buildings on fire and blame it on the Rivers State government.

“These are antics geared towards creating some kind of problem in Rivers State. They have already boasted that they will ensure that there is a state of emergency in Rivers State. We need to let the people know that these are trumped up by the enemies of the state to destabilise the state government.

“We have informed the police. On Tuesday, a group of hoodlums, being sponsored by them, threw dynamite into the generator house of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area secretariat. We spoke with the police and we named them (those who threw the dynamite).

“Rivers people should remain calm. We should not behave as if Rivers State does not belong to us. Somebody must be in the office as the governor of Rivers state.”