The All Progressives Congress has directed its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of the appointment of Service Chiefs as well as ministerial nominees until rule of law is respected in Rivers State, in particular and the nation in general.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s 8th regular National Executive Council meeting, held in Abuja, on Thursday.
The communiqué, which was read to journalists by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, after the over six-hour meeting, pointed out that the level of impunity by federal authorities in Rivers State, could no longer be tolerated.
APC noted that it might no longer restrain its members nationwide especially in Rivers State, from taking whatever step they deemed necessary to protect themselves and their property, if government fails to put a stop to the growing culture of impunity.
The full text of the APC communiqué:
“The APC Interim National Executive Committee held its 8th regular meeting today (yesterday).
In attendance were General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi; Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Nasarawa, Tanko Al-Makura; Yobe, Ibrahim Geidam; Sokoto, Aliyu Wammako; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Edo, Adams Oshiomhole; Borno, Kashim Shettima and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara states and other party leaders.
In attendance were General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Governors of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi; Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Nasarawa, Tanko Al-Makura; Yobe, Ibrahim Geidam; Sokoto, Aliyu Wammako; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Edo, Adams Oshiomhole; Borno, Kashim Shettima and the Deputy Governors of Oyo, Imo, Kano and Zamfara states and other party leaders.
“The meeting was chaired by the Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and attended by the full complement of the Interim National Executive Committee along with the leadership of the APC in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“The National Executive Committee of the APC commended the courage, maturity and political sagacity of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in the face of serial unprovoked and unwarranted assaults on his person, his constitutional rights and those of the Government and People of Rivers State. The conduct of Governor Amaechi represents our party’s maturity and compliance with the rule of law in response to escalating impunity. The APC is very proud of him.
“Any cursory observer of events in Rivers State since February, 2013 will be left in no doubt as to the culture of lawlessness and impunity being promoted and supported by the Presidency, and executed by the State Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu, who has become the defacto military Governor of Rivers State and sole administrator of the PDP in the State.
“A few instances of the brazen lawlessness and violations of the Constitution will suffice here – the forceful dispersal of 13,201 newly recruited teachers in the Port Harcourt Stadium using tear gas; blockading the entrance to the Government House in Port Harcourt and forcing the state governor to use another entrance; preventing an aircraft chartered by the state governor from taking off, alleging that the governor was trying to smuggle out a legislator wanted by the Police, no apology was offered to the Governor; the disruption of a peaceful rally during which Senator Magnus Abe was shot with intent to kill; several disruptions of Save Rivers Group rallies, and the unlawful detention of anybody perceived to be a sympathizer of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while allowing pro-Jonathan and Anti-Amaechi groups to organize rallies unmolested.
“The National Executive Committee of the APC has now resolved that if these acts of impunity and lawlessness continue unabated and the Police persists in being an enforcement arm of the PDP to the detriment of our members, it will have no alternative than to ask our teeming members all over the country and especially in Rivers State to take whatever steps that are necessary to protect their lives and property.
“Following on the forgoing and in view of the joint resolutions of the National Assembly on Rivers State, and other constitutional breaches by the Presidency, the APC hereby directs its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office until the rule of law and constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general”.
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