National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday justified why Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was blocked from entering the Government House, Port Harcourt through the old GRA Road on Thursday.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, said the governor knew the road was blocked for security reasons and he could have taken another route to the Government House, instead he sensationalised the incident before Nigerians.
Metuh said in a statement: “Of particular concern is the manipulation of the media by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, to mislead Nigerians and create an impression that he was barred by the police and the Federal Government from entering the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
“This distortion of facts is totally unacceptable and unbefitting of a state governor. It is indeed condemnable that Governor Amaechi has continued to distort facts and interfere in the lawful activities of the police and security operatives ensuring law and order in Rivers State only to manipulate the media and portray himself as the victim.
“The governor was fully aware that based on the ruling of the courts, the police had sealed off a secretariat illegally opened by some individuals under the name, flag and colour of the PDP, consequent upon which the route leading to the structure and the Government House was also closed.
“He defied the closure order by choosing to access the Government House through the same route in company with “unauthorised persons” who sought to beat security to access the sealed secretariat.
“Governor Amaechi cannot feign ignorance of the fact that the route was closed as he must have been fully informed by his security details, otherwise he is running an incompetent government that cannot guarantee the safety and welfare of his state.
“Governor Amaechi must understand that the Nigeria Police is a sacred institution which should not, in any way, be dragged into politics. In the same vein, he must understand that facts are sacred and should not be distorted under any guise”.
