President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday for the umpteenth time denied having anything to do with the political crisis currently rocking Rivers State just as he advised Prof. Wole Soyinka to get his facts right on the matter.
Mr. Jonathan made this position known through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak in Abuja.
Describing the situation in Rivers State as the internal wrangling of the Rotimi Amaechi administration, Gulak said “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.”
Exonerating the President of culpability in the entire saga, the presidential aide said, “It is mischief to say that the President is behind the crisis in Rivers State. The President cannot be part of the crisis in that state. He is a man of peace.”
He added, “We’ve seen the videos, 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.”
While denying knowledge of of any plan to impeach Amaechi, the President said “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.”
On the statement credited to Prof. Wole Soyinka that the President cannot completely exonerate himself nor his wife from the crisis in the state, Gulak said the Nobel Laureate muddled up the facts.
According to him, “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 take issues with him but I will say that he should be responsible.”
The aide added that the way-out of the crisis is for all parties to abide by the constitution which provides for separation of power.
