The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this afternoon raised the alarm over an lleged plot to kidnap Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, with a view to compelling him to sign his resignation letter.

The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, warned that the purported plot, if executed, could plunge the country into chaos. New PDP, according to Eze, “is alarmed by the report in the Vanguard newspaper of today, 8^th October, 2013 entitled ‘Alleged plot to kidnap Amaechi uncovered’.

“The story, which has yet to be denied since its publication this morning, detailed an alleged plot by some unnamed Abuja-based politicians of Rivers State origin to organise the abduction of the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, with a view to compelling him to sign his resignation letter.

“This is one allegation which should not be waved aside because there already is a precedent, which is why it is referred to as “the Ngige treatment” – a similar strategy having been used by the political enemies of Dr. Chris Ngige to get him out of the way during his days as Governor of Anambra State.
“Besides, Gov. Amaechi has in the past few months come under such relentless onslaught from his traducers that it would be foolish and too risky to rule out the possibility of their resorting to more dramatic measures in their desperation to illegally and unconstitutionally remove him from office.

“We, however, wish to warn that ‘kidnapping’ His Excellency, Gov. Amaechi, and orchestrating his purported resignation would be an invitation to anarchy. Rt. Hon. Amaechi has the mandate of the good people of Rivers State to govern them until May 29, 2015 and nothing must be done to truncate that sacred mandate.
“We appeal to all Nigerians to condemn this insidious plot and advise those hatching it to have a rethink for the sake of our hard-earned democracy.
“We also urge the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency direct relevant security agencies to investigate this evil plot and bring those behind it to book. Enough of this impunity by selfish and misguided politicians who would go to any length to feather their nest even if it would mean plunging the entire nation into avoidable chaos!”

On today’s ruling by an Abuja Federal High Court recognising the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur leadership as the authentic one, Chief Eze said in the statement:

“Let us reiterate that we will see this issue to a logical conclusion, including going to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to ensure that a non-member of our party does not continue to lord it over us as our National Chairman. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his loyalists should, therefore, not celebrate yet as any such celebration would be short-lived as we are more than ever determined to show him the way out of the exalted position he is illegally occupying.

“We meanwhile insist that we have every right to continue using the PDP flag, symbol and colours, as we are bonafide members of the party and thus entitled to use them.”

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi.

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