Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the governors of Jigawa, Kano, Niger and Adamawa earlier this morning were held hostage in the airport by protestors allegedly loyal to Goodluck Jonathan blocked off the airport.
Amaechi had earlier arrived in a different flight from the Nation's capital Abuja around 9a.m could not move out of the VIP lounge of the airport till the four other governors arrived as he was worried that his convey might be targeted by the crowd.
Eyewitnesses say that the protesters came to the airport as early as 7am and by 8 the crowd was already double its earlier size and had almost taken over the airport with the police giving them protection.
Aides to the governor said they are worried that a bloody confrontation could arise should the governors leave the airport as several of the protesters appear armed.
Opposition parties earlier revealed that Mr. Jonathan wants to foment a violent confrontation between supporters of the governor, and those opposed to him so as to give room to declare a state of emergency in the state,
Last week, five lawmakers led by an Evans Bipi, who is a close relative of Mr. Jonathan's wife tried unsuccessfully to hijack the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The governors including Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) remained at the VIP Lounge of the airport for about an hour waiting for Mr Aliyu to arrive.
After Mr Aliyu arrived, the governors drove out of the airport in a waiting motorcade provided by their host. But as their cars drove out of the airport and headed towards the Rivers State Government House, the protesters became violent pelting the motorcade with stones, water bottles, sticks and other items.
However, the governors arrived the Government House safe, without any major incident, and are now holding a closed-door meeting with Mr Amaechi.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Governor Amaechi for setting up a 12 man committee to investigate the crisis rocking the state House Assembly.
Eyewitnesses say that the protesters came to the airport as early as 7am and by 8 the crowd was already double its earlier size and had almost taken over the airport with the police giving them protection.
Aides to the governor said they are worried that a bloody confrontation could arise should the governors leave the airport as several of the protesters appear armed.
Opposition parties earlier revealed that Mr. Jonathan wants to foment a violent confrontation between supporters of the governor, and those opposed to him so as to give room to declare a state of emergency in the state,
Last week, five lawmakers led by an Evans Bipi, who is a close relative of Mr. Jonathan's wife tried unsuccessfully to hijack the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The governors including Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) remained at the VIP Lounge of the airport for about an hour waiting for Mr Aliyu to arrive.
After Mr Aliyu arrived, the governors drove out of the airport in a waiting motorcade provided by their host. But as their cars drove out of the airport and headed towards the Rivers State Government House, the protesters became violent pelting the motorcade with stones, water bottles, sticks and other items.
However, the governors arrived the Government House safe, without any major incident, and are now holding a closed-door meeting with Mr Amaechi.
Meanwhile, the Rivers state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Governor Amaechi for setting up a 12 man committee to investigate the crisis rocking the state House Assembly.
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