A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prince Tonye Princewill, has described as childish the directive given by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 budget, as well as the screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates.

Princewill in a statement issued yesterday through his spokesman on Media and Publicity, Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu, regretted that the directive was linked to the current crisis rocking Rivers State.

“Quite childish,” Princewill said. “It is obvious that if this order is carried out, Nigeria’s economy and developmental strides will take a nose dive. Has dialogue been exhausted? Is Rivers case not a case of APC looking for a fight when nobody is listening? What about the deaths in the South West? APC, has it really come to this?”

The ‘Prince of Niger Delta Politics’ condemned what he called an attempt by APC to “shut down the country.” According to him, “No man, woman or group of people has the right to threaten the stability of Nigeria. This is what this is.”

Princewill highlighted the activities of last year, when the Republicans in the United States of America tried to use their strength to hold the country to ransom. He noted that the repercussions of that action were obviously not in their favor, as the public came out en mass to reject it, with US citizens openly vowing never to vote for the party again, because of how immature their plans were. Princewill predicted that the same will happen here.

“Why is the National APC crying more than the bereaved?” Princewill asked.

He pointed to the past when the police in Rivers State was used to witch-hunt, oppress and unlawfully harass the opposition. “Walk on the streets of Port Harcourt or through the markets in town and enquire. You’ll find out that they are happy with the current neutrality of the police,” he said.

Princewill advised the leadership of the APC to have a rethink, saying: “I have worked with the then Action Congress and I know that there are still some good people in there; they should rise above the crowd and correct this impending mistake.

“Solomon in the Bible was one of the wisest men who ever lived. He was faced with a challenge; two women claiming one baby. Eventually the baby was to be cut in two, but destiny intervened. We all know the story and it was very clear who deserved the baby. Only a regionalist or one occupied by self-interest brings a country to its knees.

“Speaking of Solomon, nothing could be more appropriate to say now than STOP – a word is enough for the wise.”

•Photo shows Tonye Princewill addressing the press.