SAN FRANCISCO, August 26, (THEWILL) – The crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued Monday with the suspension of 14 members of the Rivers State Executive Council, the Governor’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the State Government amongst others, who are all partymen loyal to the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
The Felix Obuah led faction which has the backing of the national office of the party, said their suspension followed their refusal to appear before the faction’s poorly received and attended Evaluation/Performance Assessment Committee last week.
The faction in a statement by Chairman Obuah said: “The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter Monday, August 26, 2013 expelled 18 members of the party for failing without any justifiable reason to submit themselves before the performance evaluation committee of the party.
“The State Chairman of the party, Bro Felix Obuah made this disclosure while briefing newsmen in his Aba Road State Secretariat.
“The party chairman further explained that the party, acting on the recommendation of the disciplinary and the performance evaluation committee, had to wield the big stick on the affected members for not only refusing to honour the performance assessment committee’s invitation but also not considering it worthwhile to excuse themselves or send in written reports of their stewardships if they were not chanced to put up appearance despite the well publicized sitting arrangements of the committee.
“This, according to the chairman is considered as an affront, insubordination and lack of respect for constituted authority, stressing that the committee duly notified all concerned and was willing to accept any written report from such persons where necessary but did not receive any supervening circumstance that made it impossible for any of them to honour the invitation.
“We had no choice but to show them the way out of the party because we cannot continue to operate in this disorderly manner being a serious and disciplined political party”, the statement said.
Those affected by the suspension which has furthered fractured the party in the state are: “Mr George Feyii – Secretary to Government, Sir Tony Okocha – Chief of Staff to Government House, Dr Sam-Jaja – Former Deputy National Chairman PDP, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam – Administrator, GPHCDA, Mr Victor Giadom, Hon. Commissioner for Works, Hon Augustine D. Wokocha, Hon. Commissioner for Power, Worgu Bom Esq, Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Joe P. Poroma, Hon. Commissioner for Social Welfare & Rehabilitation, Ezemonye Ezekiel Amadi, Hon. Commissioner for Lands & Survey, Hon Fred Igwe, Hon. Commissioner for Sports, Hon Emmanuel Chinda, Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Mrs Joeba West, Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Patricia Simon Hart, Hon. Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Hon Okey Amadi, Hon. Commissioner for Energy, Mr Charles Okaye, Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Nnabuihe N. Imegwu, Hon. Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Hon. Commissioner for Information & Communication and Mr Samuel Eyiba, Hon Commissioner for Local Government.”
