The crisis rocking Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) assumed a new dimension as the House of Assembly Speaker – Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and other officials.
He did not reveal the identities of those behind the plot.
In an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Speaker said the plan includes the withdrawal of security personnel attached to the governor, the House, ministries and local government councils.
The Speaker said the plot was hatched at “nocturnal meetings held in a neighboring state and Abuja”.
The Speaker traced the current atmosphere of uncertainty in the state to the Abuja High Court judgement of April 15 which upturned the election of the pro-Amaechi state Executive Committee of the PDP, led by Chief G. U. Ake.
He alleged that “a test run” of the plot to expose the officers to the assassin’s bullet “has been executed, with the withdrawal of police from the Okirika Local Government Council.”
According to him, the situation is made worse by an alleged plan to free 18 notable robbery and kidnap kingpins from detention.
The detainees, he said, would be freed “to carry out this planned mayhem on the government officials, innocent citizens and residents of the state”.


Amachree wrote: “Mr. President Sir, we had on 30 April, 2013 alerted the people of the wanton cunning collapse of security apparatus in the state, intended to orchestrate breakdown of law and order, with the aim of bolstering a State of Emergency, by a group of persons …
“On 3 May, 2013, first stage of their plan had commenced with the sealing off and besieging of the Obio/Akpor Local Government council secretariat and the clampdown on the offices of the council by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu through the instrumentality of the Divisional Police Officer, Rumuokoro Police Station, without any valid instrument of law and without any security breach or semblance of same.
“On 6 May, 2013, the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, which is directly adjacent to the Police Headquarters on Moscow Road, witnessed a violent and disruptive takeover by 300 hoodlums under the watchful eyes of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
“Your Excellency Sir, we fear for the survival of our democratic structures and the freedom to carry out our legitimate legislative duties have been greatly hindered and interrupted.
“We make bold to say that we now live in uncertain times; security of lives and properties can no longer be guaranteed in Rivers State as a result of these chronicled events in a state that has just regained its peaceful status from the recent past from being the hotbed of cultism and kidnapping.
“Silence over this planned and calculated destabilization of security apparatus in Rivers State is an ‘evil wind’ that will blow no one no good and is capable of contributing to fostering anarchy on the Nigeria Stateline, especially when those charged with upholding the law, ignore and conspire to undermine it, unmindful of the implications.
“Consequently sir, we are left with no other option but to restate our avowed resolve to call for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
“We equally call on Mr. President to intervene in the ongoing imbroglio that is about destroying the very fabrics that hold the society (our state) together.”