The
Presidency has warned Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State against making
inflammatory statements ahead of the 2015 general elections.
It
said this while reacting to a statement credited to the governor that the All
Progressives Congress would not go to court if the ruling party, the Peoples
Democratic Party, rigged it out during the elections.
The
governor, who spoke at the APC Salvation Rally in Abuja, on Wednesday, was said
to have added that instead of going to court, there would be civil disobedience
in the country and that his party would form a parallel government.
Reacting
on behalf of the Presidency, on Thursday, the Senior Special Assistant to
President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, stated at a
news conference in Abuja that the President would not rig the election to win.
Besides,
he added that the President had said that even if he loses the election, he
would go back to his village in Bayelsa State to enjoy retirement.
Okupe
said, “On Wednesday, 19th November, 2014 the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi
Amaechi, made a few comments about the forthcoming general elections, which
bordered on incitement, treason and gross rascality.
“Mr.
Amaechi, who became Governor of Rivers State in 2007 consequent upon a court
judgment, said at a street rally organised by the All Progressives Congress
that if the 2015 elections are ‘rigged’, his party will not seek redress in
court but would rather carry out what he called ‘civil disobedience’ as well as
form a ‘parallel government’.
“This
statement is clearly a further evidence of Governor Amaechi’s penchant for
lawlessness and anarchy in his unbridled pursuit for power.
“It
is curious and unthinkable that a man, who was himself a beneficiary of a court
process, would demean the very platform through which he acquired the
opportunity to make his reckless and provocative statement.”
Okupe
said it was even more worrisome when one considers the fact that Amaechi’s
party, which he said was still relatively new, came on board promising hope to
Nigerians.
He
said that with statements like this, it was clear that Amaechi “is more of
liability to his party than an asset and has the potential to bring his party
to further opprobrium and disrepute.
“For
someone who aspires to become the Vice President of this country, his disdain
for law and order is not only unfortunate but also patently dangerous and sends
dark signals about the survival of our democracy.”
Okupe
added that it was a well-known fact that the Jonathan administration had
remained faithful to its commitment to electoral transparency in all elections
conducted since the electoral reforms of 2010.
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