High Court Verdict: Amaechi’s Support Base Swells

Since the judgement of Justice Ishak Bello of Abuja High Court on Monday,  April 15, which sacked the executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State,led by Chief Godpower U Ake,the people have protested in many ways.

The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) was the first to condemn the judgement,followed by the members of House of Representatives from the state,traditional rulers,Niger Delta Youth Leaders Council (NDYLC) and majority of members of the party.

Those who protested and condemned the judgement alleged that it fell short of being an empty judgement borne out of sycophantic wisdom designed to lure and lull the unwary into a false complacency and unprincipled expectation.

While majority of party members in the state vowed not to recognise the new party executive led by the former Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Chairman,Mr Felix Obuah,Chief G.U Ake said he would appeal the judgement.

Political analysts say  they see the voice of Jacob but the hand of Esau in the whole political saga unfolding in the state, insisting that there are greater forces fighting behind the scene.

Some of the protests came to the fore last Friday,five days after the judgement was delivered when Chief Godpower U.Ake spoke as the chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state visited him to identify with him and pledge their support.

Chief Ake informed them that he was not the target but Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

Ake noted that the plot was to remove and destroy the political structures built by Governor Amaechi whom he believed had done well in office.

The embattled PDP chairman regretted that some people who helped build the house are joining enemies to destroy the house they built.

According to him,”it is disheartening for people to build a house and turn round to destroy it.

“I met “Go Round”, Felix Obuah sometime in the past and he told me that Wike invited him to destroy Amaechi’s political structures. Wike is however, not alone in the fight against Amaechi. There are others at the top conspiring to destroy Amaechi’s structures”, he said.

He faulted the action of the National Executive Committee of the party for swearing in the Obuah-led exco in Abuja.

“The swearing in of an exco in Abuja is wrong, it has always been the responsibility of the governor to maintain peace. I’m not a violent man and I urge PDP supporters in the state to remain calm”.

He however, said the party was actually not the target but the Rivers State governor whom the arsenal was targeting at.

The Mayor of Port Harcourt, Mr Chimbiko Akarolo, who led other council chairmen to register their solidarity as members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON),said they were with Chief G.U Ake as the chairman of the PDP in the State.

Akarolo disclosed that they were very much concerned about the issue at stake in Rivers State, adding that they were aware that there was a judgement in Ake’s favour which had not been set aside and were also aware that the Ake-led executive had appealed the matter.

“As concerned PDP members, we frown against the unbecoming activities of disgruntled elements within the party who are bent on derailing the party. We have always seen you as a role model in the party, and in the present circumstance, we will remain calm and allow the law to take its course”,he said.

The Ogu Bolo Local Government council Chairperson,Hon Maureen Tamuno expressed confidence in Chief G U Ake as the chairman of the party in the State and pledged that members of ALGON would continue to stand behind the truth and always defend the mandate given to Ake and the Governor the Rivers State.