Gov. Amaechi Arrested And Detained By Soldiers In Ondo

The Rivers State Government has issued a statement saying its governor, Rotimi Amaechi has been arrested and being held hostage by security operatives in Odudu, Ondo state.

The governor, the statement said, was arrested as he made his way to Ado-Ekiti for a political rally by his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi.

Read full statement below.
The Rivers State Government is concerned about the safety of Governor Amaechi who is right now being held hostage commando style by soldiers and federal government security agents in Odudu, Ondo state.
Governor Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ forum and as an APC governor and chieftain had left Port Harcourt this morning for Ekiti state where he was to join his brother governor in his last mega rally before the elections.

Governor Amaechi was ambushed and refused entry into Ekiti by military personnel acting on orders from above. He made to turn back and return to Akure where his chattered aircraft was parked but was chased and rounded by armed soldiers and security personnel in Odudu, Ondo state. According to the captain who led the operation, he had orders not to allow the governor entry or exit.

In the meantime, the chattered aircraft that conveyed he governor has been grounded while the minsters of Defence, police Affairs and Minister of state for Defence have landed the Akure airport.
The Rivers State government is especially worried that Federal government and President Jonathan have singled out Governor Amaechi for harassment and attack.

While we hold the person and office of the President in utmost regards, we believe that it is unacceptable that the presidency would disrespect the person and office of an elected governor of a federating unit and consistently hound him.
The Rivers state government is all more worried as Ondo saga is coming on the heels of a plot by six PDP lawmakers this morning to carry out a kangaroo impeachment of the duly elected governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, con first at Krisdara hotels and later Bauchi street, Port Harcourt.

Ordinarily such banality should be ignored as it neither is legal nor constitutional. However in the light of the recent attempts to hoist a Chief Judge on Rivers people through the back door and the attendant rumours that the reason for that desperate act was to make it easier for the PDP to actualize its sinister daydream of ousting Governor Amaechi before May 29, 2015, we believe that it has become necessary to draw the attention of Rivers people, Nigerians and the international community to the situation in Rivers State.