In a move apparently aimed to lure embattled Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, governors of the emergent All Progressives Congress (APC) came to his rescue today in Owerri, the Imo State capital, defending him in the face of his travails which the APC governors traced to the door step of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Amaechi, the once powerful Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, has had his wings clipped lately but has been left without a defence by members of his own Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Reports have suggested that he may decamp to APC but he says he has no such plans.

As if to assure Amaechi of support if he decamps to their fold, APC governors who stormed Owerri to attend ceremonies marking Okorocha’s second anniversary as governor, berated President Jonathan over what they called the harassment and intimidation of Gov. Amaechi by the Presidency and agencies of the federal government.

In a communique read by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State after a closed-door meeting at the Government House, the governors described the development in Rivers State as an assault on the constitution and sovereignty of the nation.

“We are concerned about the development in the polity of Rivers State. What is going on in the state in our own view is an assault on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We therefore condemn the open assault as the government being formed by the democratic system cannot be arbitrary harassed or intimidated out of office. We call on the president to stop the unwarranted harassment of the sovereignty of the nation,” the APC governors said.

They also reviewed the progress so far made on the conclusion of the merger and expressed satisfaction that APC will give Nigerians alternative government that would address the problems facing the Nigerian nation.

They governors however enjoined party members to remain resolute as the ruling PDP is still allegedly plotting to disrupt the merger by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

On the solidarity to the their host, the APC governors declared: “We have noted the developmental strides going on in the state under the rescue mission of Gov. Owelle Rochas Okorocha for the past two years and expressed our solidarity to the people of Imo state on the second anniversary of the Imo Freedom Day.”

•Photo shows the APC governors.

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