Defection: Rivers PDP Hails Lawmakers, Others For Shunning Amaechi As House Of Assembly Chief Whip Joins Pro-Wike Group

Amaechi and PDPThe Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday commended the bold steps taken by the chief whip of the state House of Assembly – Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and many of his colleagues, as well as party members for refusing to join Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Describing Hon. Ikuinyi’s decision not to be cajoled into joining the APC as wise, far-sighted and courageous, the state PDP in a statement by Jerry Needam, the media aide to chairman of the party, Chief Felix Obuah, said the brave step confirmed that the lawmaker, the Andonis, the entire state legislators and many others could not be coerced by Amaechi into the APC.

According to the statement, PDP is firmly rooted in the state and cannot be wished away or members bossed around.

The statement reads in part: “It’s very obvious that Amaechi does not want to go down alone and has, therefore, deliberately created a world of make-believe to hoodwink his victims into believing that his utopian ambition is in their interest and realizable.

“May we appeal to our esteemed members and PDP faithful in the state to remain steadfast and shun any attempts to deceive them”.

The statement  added that , “Rivers State is, and remains a PDP State and is better off, and more protected under our party platform with one of our own, Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the national leader, and president of the country and by God’s grace will continue in office after 2015.

“This is our prayer and hope. A God-given opportunity, never gotten on a platter of Gold and which the like of Amaechi want to fritter way but God forbid”, the party declared.

But the Assembly Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee said he was not surprised by Ikuinyi’s decision to join the anti-Amaechi group in the state.

Kwanee, who spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Monday, said that the defection was long overdue since according to him, the chief whip was a political godson of an unnamed top PDP chieftain in Abuja and subject to his influence.