THE crisis in the Rivers State People’s Democratic Party, PDP, deepened, yesterday, as factional leadership of the party in the state led by Felix Obuah expelled 14 commissioners and four other top functionaries of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led administration.
The other faction led by Chief Godspower Ake, as well as Governor Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, Mr Tony Okocha, however, dismissed their expulsion as a Nollywood drama that is of no consequence.
From left: Gov Murtala Nyakko of Adamawa; PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the PDP 62nd National Executive Council Meeting in Abuja on Thursday (22/8/13).
Chairman of Rivers PDP, Felix Obuah who announced the suspension of Governor Amaechi’s loyalists, yesterday, at the party’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, said the action was based on the State Working Committee’s (SWC) appraisal of the report and recommendations submitted to party executives by its Performance Evaluation Committee and its Disciplinary Committee.
The SWC declared the expulsion of the 18 key functionaries of the Amaechi government about two hours after receiving and deliberating on the Performance Evaluation Committee’s report presented earlier by its chairman, Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who had hinted that the report contained general recommendations and those specific to individuals, particularly party members loyal to Governor Amaechi who had shunned summons by the committee.
List of expelled members
The expelled members as listed by Obuah, include Worgu Boms, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; Ibim Semenitari (Information), Okey Amadi (Energy), Emmanuel Chinda (Agric), Victor Giardom (Works), Samuel Eyiba (Local Government Affairs), Patricia Simon Hart (Water Resources), Ezemonye Ezekiel-Amadi (Lands & Survey), Charles Okaye (Chieftaincy Affairs), Joeba West (Women Affairs), Gogo Levi Jacks (Budget and Economic), Fred Igwe (Sports), Nabbs Imegwu (Culture and Tourism) and Marshall Uwom (Housing).
The four other government functionaries also expelled were George Feyi, Secretary to the State Government; Tony Okocha (Chief of Staff); Dr. Claribe Cookey-Gams, boss of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority and former Deputy National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Sam Jaja.
Obuah said: “These people failed to honour the invitation of the committee and they did not also excuse themselves for being absent or communicated what made it impossible for them to appear in person. You are aware that the committee sent invitations to various persons and respected leaders of the party came and presented their score cards.
“We also found in the report that some persons who could not come in person informed the house of their circumstances and others submitted written reports on their stewardship to the committee.
But the persons we have just mentioned acted in contempt, insubordination and disrespect for the party in not honouring the invitation of the Performance Evaluation Committee.
“Sequel to the recommendations of the committee and that submitted by the Disciplinary Committee, they are therefore expelled from the party. Let us also make it clear that this is not the end of this exercise.
“We are still studying the report. Some affected persons whose cases the state cannot decide upon would have their recommendations forwarded to the national body for appropriate action while the leadership at the local government and ward levels would also be properly briefed to take action which we shall continue to communicate to the people.
He reiterated that the “essence of the evaluation was not to witch-hunt anyone but to know how far and how well party members in positions of trust have met the aspirations of the party, our people and the entire Rivers State.”
Obuah owes Amaechi apology— Ake
Reacting swiftly to the development, deposed state chairman of the PDP, Chief Godspower Ake stated: “The poor reception and attendance at the Felix Obuah Evaluation/Performance Committee by members of the PDP in Rivers State no doubt, is clear indication and proof that the committee had totally failed on take-off and an open rejection of Obuah and his co-travellers by the real owners of the PDP in Rivers State.”
Ake’s statement signed by his spokesman, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba further said that “the wicked motive to suspend all PDP members loyal to Governor Chibuike Amaechi makes nonsense of the whole exercise. Besides, it is total waste of time and alien to the party constitution.
It has neither history nor precedent in the PDP from the days of its founding fathers, most of whom are still alive.”
It further said that, “Obuah owes Governor Chibuike Amaechi a well-deserved apologies publicly, instead of making unguarded utterances in the media capable of undermining the party.”
It’s Nollywood drama — Okocha
Also reacting to the expulsion, Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, Mr Tony Okocha dismissed as a child’s play, his expulsion and that of 17 other aides of Governor Amaechi by the Felix Obuah-led faction of the PDP in the state.
Okocha who dismissed the action of the party as another Nollywood drama script said there were two factions of the party in the state. He said since both factions of the party were in court, the purported expulsion of principal members of the party and top aides of the governor carried out by the Obuah faction amounted to an act of subjudice. He said the Obuah faction lacked the powers to expel members of the other faction of the party.
“The PDP doesn’t have such powers to expel me or any member of the state executive council. The matter involving Felix Obuah executive is in court, so it is subjudice. We challenge them to publish the names of the eight commissioners who they said wrote to them (PDP) why they could not attend the invitation of the so-called Performance Evaluation Committee and which yardstick.
What they are planning is to use fake delegates to the sub-convention of the PDP that is coming up this weekend. The thing to ask is why is PDP fighting PDP? A house divided against itself cannot stand.
The whole thing looks like people who are ignorant. As I said, the matter is in court and we are not perturbed. Who are those they said they wrote a letter inviting them to appear before a committee?
Let them also show us the letter they claim to have sent out. We all know that the PDP in the state has two factions, the original one led by Chief Godspower Ake and the other by Felix Obuah”.
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