Rivers State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi has said that in spite of President Goodluck Jonathan’s public disclosures of being committed to democracy as well as free and fair elections, he has refused to act in ways suggestive of such commitment.
The Governor, who was reacting soldiers’ occupation of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ahead of Jonathan’s presidential campaign in the state on Wednesday, stated that Jonathan’s actions rather indicates that he (Jonathan) was opposed to democratic norms.
Ameachi, who stated this at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Sunday, explained that it was wrong for President Jonathan to order soldiers to take over the state-owned stadium, especially when an approval has not been granted by the state government.
He held that in an ideal federation, the President should have respected the position of the state government, particularly after it asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the Liberation Stadium instead.
In his words, “Why is the President insisting on using the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium after we have told the PDP that work is currently going on there? It is unfortunate that the President is preaching one thing and doing another thing.
“If the President is truly interested in the conduct of a free and fair election, why did he order armed soldiers to forcefully take over a state government-owned facility when it was not given to him or the PDP?
“Why should a President elected in a democratic election, serving under a democratic dispensation order soldiers to take over a state-owned stadium? In an ideal federation, the President is supposed to respect our position, especially after we asked them to use the Liberation Stadium at Elekahia, in Port Harcourt City,” the Governor asserted.
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