Rivers State: Amaechi's commissioners pledge loyalty to APC

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 11:47 pm

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

After the defection of Tele Ikuru,the deputy governor of Rivers state from All Progressive Congress,APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, the 32 members of Rivers state Executive council have dispelled the rumour that there were plans by members to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP.

The cabinet members held an emergency meeting today at the Executive Chambers of Government House,Port Harcourt and,presided over by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi: convenes emergency cabinet meeting

Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner for Information and Communications said that as at the time of the council meeting today, the Deputy Governor had not formally notified the Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the council that he had dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC,for PDP and neither has he sent apologies that he was not attending the council meetings any more.

She said the council and the Governor were aware of media reports that the Deputy Governor had defected to PDP.But that the Rivers state Government wanted to put it on record that the Deputy Governor has not officially notified the government he would not be attending council meetings.

The Information and communications commissioner also said that no member of the state executive plans to defect to PDP or to another party and they remain loyal members of APC contrary to claims by Mr Felix Obuah,the State Chairman of PDP,that Governor Amaechi is left with only five Commissioners in his cabinet that would not be defecting.

She said that the members of Rivers executive who are mainly Commissioners for various ministeries and the leaders of APC in their areas and driving the APC campaigns.

According to Obuah,”About 21 Commissioners in Governor Amaechi cabinet are already talking with me about coming home to join their own party.They are just waiting to pick their last salaries and dump Amaechi and the APC sinking ship”.Obuah claimed.

Meanwhile, the executive council of the Rivers state government rose from their council meeting to call on the Rivers state command of the Nigeria Police to rise to the security challenges of securing lives and property before,during and after the general elections to stem the wanton killing of innocent persons no matter their political affiliations.