Minister of Education, Mr. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike, has accused the 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, of planning to flee the country.
Wike disclosed this on Sunday, at the inauguration of Khana Local Government Area executives and wards chapter of the Grassroots Development Initiatives (GDI), the political structure of the minister.
Wike, who is the grand patron of the group, alleged that the lawmakers had approached the American and French embassies as well as the Civil Liberties Organisation with a letter to grant them asylum.
He lambasted them for abandoning their responsibilities for the National Assembly, and plotting to flee the country.
“Our Assembly members, the former Assembly members, who have taken their responsibilities to the National Assembly, have gone to sign a letter; they have given to Civil Liberties Organisation, they have given to American Embassy, they have given to French Embassy to give them asylum; to give them asylum, should they want to run away. I am not telling this because they are not members, this is the truth of the matter.
“These are those who are representing you. They are writing letter of asylum; what are they seeking asylum for? Tell them, if they say they are not from Rivers State, they can go wherever they want to. Those of us, who are from Rivers State and living in Rivers State, we shall continue to stay here.”
He urged the party supporters to disregard media reports that there was a new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, adding that the state had only one Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, and the national PDP Chairman is Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
“Let me tell you that there is only one PDP and that is the Peoples Democratic Party. There is only one leader, and he is Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; there is only one National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; there is only one Chairman in the state, Chief Felix Amaechi Obuah. And, there is only one Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. So, when you hear new this or new that, tell them to go and form their own new. PDP is one PDP.”
Wike, however, urged the group to mobilise for President Jonathan for the 2015 election, stressing that he deserved it.
“We are mobilising to support Jonathan. But, those who feel they are popular are mobilising to carry unnecessary propaganda. We are mobilising to support our son, our brother, our neighbour, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That is what we are doing. GDI must go from ward to ward, community to community, from village to village, from house to house, that in 2015, we must work for our son, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to run, and we must give him the necessary support. Let nobody put any division among us. Move about and campaign for him. Enemies of progress cannot stop us.”
Earlier at the event, Chief Obuah, gave assurance that Rivers people would be mobilised for President Jonathan for 2015 presidential election.
