Rivers Emergency Rule: South-South Govs’ Stand, Count Me Out – Odey

Odey, who assumed duties last week following Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s decision to transit power while on three weeks vacation, faulted the Governors’ stand on the premise that such decision was too myopic and sectional in nature.

According to him, the Forum should have been more circumspect in arriving at a decision that takes into account national cohesion and stability in the face of clear economic sabotage.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Barrister Fred Abua in Calabar, the Acting Governor expressed disappointment with the Forum’s stand on the matter they know too well that if urgent proactive steps were not taken to checkmate the crisis, it was gradually degenerating into serious economic crisis as oil pipelines were being blown up on daily basis.

He said any government that shies away from its constitutionally assigned responsibility of maintaining law and order as well as protecting the lives and property of the people certainly lacks credibility.

The statement further said that the nation’s fledging democracy would continue to survive only if national interest is placed above personal, sectional or political consideration.

The Acting Governor noted that the political crisis in Rivers State was already assuming ethnic and parochial dimension without regard to the likely implications and consequences that were staring everyone in the face.

He challenged the Governors’ Forum to show any evidence of a piece road map put in place by them to demonstrate their honest and sincere concern on the Rivers crisis, rather than shedding crocodile tears on an issue that was glaringly assuming a dangerous national dimension