The Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, has said that it was wrong for anybody to link Jonathan with the escalating crisis in Rivers State.
Gulak said his principal is a victim of the “mischief” of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.
He said rather than alleging that the President is remotely behind the crisis, Amaechi should be held responsible, adding that his presence in the state House of Assembly on Tuesday aggravated the fracas that led to some members sustaining injury.
Gulak argued that on no account should a sitting governor drive to the House of Assembly to intervene in the internal crisis among lawmakers, adding that the constitution is very clear on separation of powers.
He also added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Joseph Mbu, had advised the governor not to go to the House of Assembly.
Gulak wondered why the Chief Security Officer and the ADC to Governor Amaechi should partake in the fighting in the House as shown on the video clips.
The Political Adviser spoke further: “The problem in Rivers State is the internal wrangling of the administration of the governor.
“It is sad that when there are crises in the Assembly, the governor will physically drive to the House of Assembly to partake in the crises.
“We have seen the video clips.
“The CSO to the governor, the ADC and the Orderly were right inside the chambers, partaking in the bout.
“We saw the Majority Leader of the Amaechi group, who was wearing a white dress, and was using the mace to beat people.
“The video is clear.
“Immediately after, he left the House of Assembly and went to the Government House and laid down on a bed in the Government House Clinic pretending.
“The fact is in this crisis of Rivers State, the governor should be held responsible because if he did not go physically to the House of Assembly, those guys wouldn’t have been emboldened to be beating people there.
“More so, that his security aides were right inside the chambers, the sacred chambers, which ordinarily nobody is allowed to enter apart from the members.
“So I repeat that Amaechi should be held responsible for what happened.
“He should not drag Jonathan’s name into this matter.
“Rather, it is the President that is the victim of Amaechi’s mischief plan.
“He is claiming the state is under siege and that the Commissioner of Police is against him whereas the CP warned him not to go physically into the House of Assembly.
“There was a time Adamawa State House of Assembly was closed for three months because of crisis.
“We did not see the governor drive physically into the assembly.
“Thereafter, the issue was resolved.
“The way out is for all parties to abide by the constitution.
“There is separation of powers in the constitution.
“We have the judiciary, legislature and executive.
“When there are crises in the House of Assembly like this, the governor is not supposed to physically partake in the crises.
“Driving down and using his security aides to physically partake is wrong.
“I am not aware of any plan to impeach the governor and the President is not aware even if there are such plans.
“But what I know is that the House of Assembly intended to change their leadership.
“Rightly or wrongly, they have a constitutional right to do it if they have the majority.
“But that will not warrant a governor to physically come to the assembly and physically partake in the fight.”
Gulak also reacted to Prof. Wole Soyinka’s accusation that President Jonathan and his wife, Patience, should be held responsible for the crisis.
He said as an elder, Soyinka should have got his fact right before making any public comment.
Gulak said: “Soyinka, without knowing the fact, just went public to blame the President and his wife for what is happening in the state.
“He is an elder statesman.
“I don’t want to join issues with him but I will say that he should be responsible.”
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