Interim Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Davies Ikanya, has hailed the decision of the party’s national leadership to frontally confront the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Dr. Ikanya was reacting to the directive given yesterday in Abuja by the APC interim National Executive Committee (NEC) to members of the party in the National Assembly to henceforth shoot down any executive bill from the Presidency. The directive covers the 2014 Budget and confirmation of the appointment of Service Chiefs as well as Ministers. The APC interim NEC said the directive will remain in force until constitutionalism is restored in Rivers State and the nation in general.

Ikanya in a statement issued this morning in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, described the directive as a masterstroke.

“With this decision by APC, let us now see which party is the majority in Nigeria and how the Presidency, which has in connivance with the PDP leadership frustrated all attempts by APC as the new majority party to assume its rightful position by taking over the position of House Majority Leader, among other important leadership positions in the House of Representatives, can function effectively,” the Rivers APC interim boss said.

Dr. Ikanya condemned “the brazen manner in which the rights of citizens of Rivers State are being breached by persons and institutions saddled with the responsibility of protecting them.” He said that “such undemocratic acts from CP Joseph Mbu who has usurped the office of the Governor of Rivers State as the Military Administrator and the Sole Administrator of PDP are no longer acceptable.”

The Rivers State APC Interim Chairman described the Jonathan administration and the party that produced it as lawless and obstinate, accusing them of having broken modern records in the perpetration of impunity.

According to Dr. Ikanya: “From Rivers State, which they have virtually made ungovernable, to the National Assembly, where they have also exported their lawlessness, PDP and the Jonathan Presidency have showed beyond every reasonable doubt that the only language they understand is force. With this minimal force being applied by APC to restore sanity in the polity, Rivers State, reclaim its right in the National Assembly, grow our democracy and promote constitutionalism in our nation, PDP will be forced to wake up to the reality that it will no longer take the plight of our nation for granted and that it is no longer the majority party as that position is now occupied by the APC.”

The Rivers State APC Interim Chairman acknowledged that the party’s new position would inevitably lead to some form of hardship as it may delay the passage of the 2014 Budget on time. He however appealed to Nigerians to accept this as a necessary sacrifice which has to be made to rescue the country’s fledgling democracy because “there cannot be gain if there is no pain.”

Continuing, Ikanya said: “We will not allow President Jonathan who has single-handedly ruined PDP and governance in Rivers State to ruin our fledgling democracy. Enough of his acts of impunity! Mr. President can still retrace his steps and toe the path of honour, integrity, constitutionalism and democratic norms or continue with the infamy and impunity acts associated with his government that will surely consume us all. The choice is Mr. President’s!”

•Photo shows Rivers State APC Interim Chairman, Ikanya.