Text of Press Briefing by the PDP, Rivers State on Gov. Amaechi's defection to the APC

Walter speaking at the parley

Gentlemen of the Press,

 it is with pleasure that I meet with you once again to rob minds on the political developments in our dear state. Not long ago, while bemoaning the orchestrated plots to throw the state chapter of our party, the PDP into crisis by those we describe as inside outsiders lead by Gov. Chibuike Ameachi who had long been suspended along with some of his cohorts, we told you that it will not be long before they openly admit what they have been doing in secret even, though denying all this while. You will agree with us that the leadership of the PDP in Rivers State have been vindicated.

You were also informed of how Gov. Amaechi was using the resources of Rivers State to lubricate his vice presidential ambition which informed his stiff opposition to
President Goodluck Jonathan and everything Mr. President stood for.

The plan has always been to dent the image of the President before the Nigerian public, despite the fact that both of them come from the same geo-political zone, in fact, from the sister states of Rivers and Bayelsa and above all, President Jonathan has done well and Amaechi cannot possibly vie for the office of the President and that of the Vice President simultaneously.

This is the crux of the matter.

To ensure he does not lose in his self inflicted war, he has been shuttling the length and breadth of this country, mobilizing and fraternizing with every perceivable or
conceivable opposition against the ruling party; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Those of us in the state whom he cannot induce with the personalized resources of the state, even though he has labeled us as people in penury and abject poverty, desirous of sharing the resources of the state, we can state without equivocation that we are steadfast without winking or blinking; as we have become immune to his usual cheap blackmail.

You are all witnesses of the number of groups, from across the Country and even abroad invited to the state by Gov. Amaechi under the pretext of solidarity visits and the amount of resources spent on hosting and transporting such groups, even in the face of the hunger, deprivation, unemployment etc that is visible among our people. In spite of the huge allocations accruing to the state from the Federation account.

It's now clear to all doubting Thomases that we were not just crying wolf as there is no smoke without fire.

First, it was a group of Northern governors led by Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State, closely followed by Prof. Wole Soyinka and his team, and thereafter, the
APC chieftains all of which amounts to a waste of resources and detrimental to the economic well being of the state.

Even in the face of all this, Gov. Amaechi never admitted that he had anything to do with any party other than the PDP.

However, just yesterday, being Tuesday November 26, 2013 in his usual meetings with the G7 governors at the Kano State Liaison office, Abuja, Amaechi officially declared his defection to the APC.

To us, this does not come as a shock; as it only confirmed our earlier position that Amaechi only hung around to ensure that the PDP was destroyed before he leaves.

His inability to achieve that feat is a testament to the truism that providence is always with the just and the fair. His eventual exit from our party will leave us more united,
purposeful, focused and stronger.

All this while, Amaechi and his allies have constituted a cog in our wheel of progress. We give God the Glory; we have just been librated.

Subsequently, we will intimate you of our thanksgiving service for the exit of a malignant cancer in the body polity of PDP; Amaechi. A committee to that effect will
be inaugurated shortly. We wish Gov. Amaech and his co-travelers well.

May we also use this opportunity to reassure our teeming supporters that the PDP in the state is still on track and will fare better without Amaechi. Our members should
remain firm, committed and faithful to the growth and success of the party and support for President Goodluck Jonathan while resisting any attempt to bribe them to
accompany Amaechi to the APC in the guise of SURE-P empowerment program in the state; as SURE-P is their usual bait and decoy.

The party will not fail to wield the big stick against any member found indulging in anti-party activities; as we remain resolute in our support for the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader our great party, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

We therefore enjoin all the good people of Rivers State to shun any act or ploy to hoodwink them into believing that Amaechi has anything to offer.

Long live the PDP

Long live Rivers State

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Chief (Hon.) Ibibia O Walter JP

State Secretary, PDP Rivers State.