Amaechi Opens Up About His Suspension, Says It's Political Witch Hunt

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi said his suspension from the ruling People's Democratic Party, PDP is a political witch hunt.

Amaechi who spoke on a live broadcast to mark this year's Children's day celebration said the Party did not give him a fair hearing before suspending him.

The Governor said the issue of Obio Akpor Local Government Council under which the Party suspended him is a pure legislative matter which the State Assembly is presently handling.

He said, "the action of the PDP in suspending me is a political witch hunt. They met around 7.00am and the next I heard is suspension. I was not given a fair hearing. The suspension of Obio Akpor Local Government Council is a legislative matter. There was an allegation of corruption in the Council and the Assembly suspended the Council officials to pave way for a thorough investigation. If at the end of the day the Council officials are absolved of the corruption charges they will be recalled. But if they are found guilty of the allegation of corruption the Council will be dissolved.

"PDP as a party should not encourage corruption. As a party they should frown at corruption. Unless they are supporting corruption, then, what the Assembly is investigating in Obio Akpor is wrong."

He said the crisis rocking Obio Akpor is already in Court and wondered how PDP should use it as an excuse to suspend him from the Party.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenatari, reiterated the same views of the Governor.

The five opposition members of the State House of Assembly who were opposed to the suspension of the officials of Obio Akpor local Government Council said the suspension of Governor Amaechi from PDP is in order.
The group in a press statement signed by Kelechi Nwogu and Micheal Chindah on its behalf said the suspension of Amaechi is a way of condemning the suspension of the Council officials.

The group said the suspension of Governor Amaechi from the party over Obio Akpor matter has vindicated their earlier stand that the suspension of the Council Officials were out of order.

The Felix Obuah led PDP in the stand says it is in support of the suspension of the Governor. The party in a press statement signed by its publicity secretary Nwanosike Samuel said the process under which Amaechi won the NGF election is fraudulent.

The party said it will only recognize Governor Jona Jang as the authentic Chairman of the NGF.

Meanwhile the Nigeria Labor Congress , NLC and his Trade Union Congress, TUC have embarked on a two day warning strike in solidarity with the workers of Obio Apkor Local Government Council whose Council secretariat was sealed off by Rivers State Police. The Council workers have not received two months' salary as a result of the sealing off of the Council secretariat by the Police.



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