Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio may have taken a subliminal shot at his Rivers counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi in recent remarks made to the print media.
Whilst discussing his take on the feud between the G7 Governors and President Goodluck Jonathan, Akpabio said “you cannot be a good leader without being a good follower.”
He added that rebelling against God ordained leaders would definitely lead to a reciprocal of the same.
His words: “Well, I’ve seen newspapers clips where they said the rebellious governors, the G-7 and so on and so forth. In any rebellion, we can resolve it through dialogue and I think that that’s what the President is doing, that’s what the PDP leadership is out to do to see how it can dialogue and bring the situation to a close.”
“But, you see, it all depends. But for me, I believe that you cannot be a good leader unless you’re a good follower and I believe also strongly that leadership comes from God. So the question of rebelling against leadership does not occur because if I rebel against the leadership at the federal level, I should expect somebody also to rebel against my leadership at the state level, may be from my own local government or thereabouts,” he added.
Political analysts are of the view that Akpabio was referring to Governor Amaechi’s challenges with the Obio-Akpor Local Government Council in Rivers.
The Rivers State High Court on Monday ordered the state government to reinstate the suspended Chairman, Timothy Nsirim, and councilors of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Governor Amaechi is strongly against the return of Nsirim and this contention is what led to the current political crisis in the state with acting Education minister, Nyesom Wike as a leading opposing figure to Amaechi.
The Rivers State Government is appealing the decision of the High Court.
Rivers Commissioner of Information and Communication, Ibim Semenitari, “As a responsible Government, which respects the rule of law, we have noted the ruling and in our usual manner would abide by the pronouncement,” it said.
“However, we are constrained to note that the trial judge acted in total disregard of the Court of Appeal, which at the moment is entertaining an appeal in respect of the matter.
“We are aware that under the rules of court, where there is a subsisting ruling essentially from the court above, lower courts are as a rule expected to stay action pending the determination of the appeal.
“In this instance, we wish to state without equivocation that the trial judge erred in law when she failed to adhere to age-long principles upon which the rule of law draws inspiration and strength.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government has filed an appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment while the ongoing matter that is being heard by the court above is billed for Thursday, the 28th of November, 2013.”
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