Details Of How Amaechi And Supporters Confronted Police At Airport

Youths supporting one of the rebel governors, Rotimi Amaechi, almost clashed with policemen who attempted to prevent them from entering the Port Harcourt International  Airport.

The youths  had assembled close to the airport  to welcome a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari;  the APC  National  Leader, Alhaji Bola  Tinubu;  and other top  members of the party, who were arriving the state for a rally.

It was gathered that Amaechi, on hearing of the development, moved to the main entrance of the airport where   policemen had blocked the main gate, preventing  the youths   from entering.

The  youths, who were already spoiling for war at about 9am, stood at the gate and refused to move back   as directed by the policemen.

The policemen, according to sources, were hesitant in opening the gate, until some of the youths  forced it  open in anger.

While about 20 per cent of them   managed to follow the governor, others  were not allowed in.

The governor trekked about five kilometres from the main entrance of the airport to the VIP lounge with  those that followed  him.

The leader of the police team, Ache Joseph, expressed dissatisfaction over the development and expressed fear that the  youths  could cause trouble.

An angry Amaechi   said the police were portraying themselves as the military wing of the PDP.

He recalled that the Supervising  Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, once  mobilised some youths to boo him at the same airport when he  was there  to welcome President Goodluck Jonathan.

Amaechi  said since the police allowed the minister’s supporters to enter the airport, they (police) should have also permitted his own supporters to gain entrance to the airport.

He said, “I flew in (from Lagos) and wanted to go and change to receive my visitors. I got to the gate and I was told that the policemen did not allow my supporters into the airport.

“I said an ordinary minister of state, who was my chief of staff, would gather people at Eleme with police protection while a former Head of State is arriving with some governors, but police will not allow the people in, what type of country is that?

“Somebody said the police had become the military wing of the PDP. That is not the only truth. The other truth is that we are running a military government. I lead the people. I had to march them into the airport. That’s how we got here (VIP lounge). I trekked from the gate to this place (VIP lounge).”

Amaechi  added that the police should be held responsible  if there was any breakdown of law and order.

The  Pro-Amaechi youths  in  the airport, who  had also queried why they should be barred from entering the airport,   chanted, “No Amaechi, No 2015 elections; No Amaechi, No Rivers State; No Amaechi, No Nigeria.”

One of the  youths, who identified himself as Gift Uzor, said they were    ready to confront the policemen  if the governor had not come to ensure that the gate was opened for   them to enter the airport