A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, has alleged that his statement of caution to the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi on the crises in the state, has advanced threat to his life by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari.
Princewill, in a statement signed yesterday in Lagos by his assistant on media and publicity, Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu, accuses Semenitari of launching a vicious attack on his person on a radio programme over his (Princewill) view that Gov. Amaechi should stop painting President Goodluck Jonathan black in the Rivers crises.
He noted that his disagreement with the Governor was not personal but based on the principle of calling a spade a spade, and just as he had often commended him for the good works he had done, he would also chastise him whenever he did not, saying same applies to his recent position.
The statement said, “When the Governor decided to buy a new plane, he (Princewill) protested. He didn’t stop there. When the Governor decided to be the spokesperson for the opposition while in PDP, Tonye advised against it, and when he decided to sack the Obio Akpor council, again the Prince said it was wrong. In all cases he told him privately before saying it publicly – for the record.
Adducing the consistency of his stance on the issue of Rivers as the reason for the vitriolic attack by Semenitari on his person, he noted that the venom the Commissioner poured on him during a Rythm 93.7 Saturday’s viewpoint programme, was most unfortunate and embarrassing to the Rivers people.
“The Prince’s recent stand not to move to APC and not to fight the President should not warrant the kind of response it is getting from a whole government spokesperson, who really should be busy doing several other things. Nothing the Prince has said has directed personal attacks at anyone in Rivers state Government. What was she thinking?
“A prominent Niger Delta activist called the Prince recently to tell him that he had been threatened by someone very high up in Rivers state government for something he was supposed to have said and that he the Prince had been mentioned within the threat as well.
“Before now, we would have laughed it off as ridiculous but after today’s interview, we are not so sure. Such a vicious attack today on radio from a lady who we had previously viewed with high regard only suggests that this crisis has brought out the worst in our government leaders. Tolerance has been thrown out the window and criticism is no longer heard even if it is constructive. Just like our friend Tony Uranta, the Prince must now live in fear of his life,” the statement said.
The statement further clarifies the effort of the PDP chieftain at ensuring that adequate security measures are put in place for him in the face of the threats, “We have since tabled documents before Rhythm 93.7, and reacted for the records to demonstrate the truth in the Prince’s comments and the holes in hers.
“While we await her evidence to back her claims, the issue no doubt will be the subject of legal proceedings so that Rivers people can see for themselves who is really telling the truth. In addition to legal advice we have also taken other advice and written to the IG and the Director, SSS. We feel prompted to do so because people who are prepared to go to this length to smear your character don’t mean well for you. An angry man is a threat. An angry government is an ability to carry out that threat.”
Describing claims that he parted ways with Amaechi because the governor took contracts away from him as an attempt to trivialise the situation and clutching at straws, he noted that the waste management contract or any other contract taken from him by the governor was not responsible for his public opposition to Rivers State Government’s anti Jonathan stance, adding that the Commissioner of Information only wants to misinform the public.