Jonathan is not interested in conducting free and fair elections – Amaechi

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state on Sunday
said President Goodluck Jonathan isn't interested in
conducting free, fair and credible elections next
month.
Amaechi said this at the Government House in Port
Harcourt, in reaction to soldiers' occupation of the
Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ahead of the
Jonathan's political campaign in the state on
Wednesday.
According to him, Jonathan's action clearly showed
that he (Jonathan) is opposed to democratic norms,
arguing that it was wrong for the President to order
soldiers to take over the state-owned stadium, even
when approval was not given by the state
government.
"Why is the President insisting on using the Adokiye
Amiesamaka Stadium after we have told the PDP
that work is currently going on there?

It is unfortunate that the President is preaching one thing and doing another thing. "If the President is truly interested in the conduct of a free and fair election, why did he order armed soldiers to forcefully take over a state government- owned facility when it was not given to him or the PDP?

"Why should a President elected in a democratic
election, serving under a democratic dispensation
order soldiers to take over a state-owned stadium?
In an ideal federation, the President is supposed to
respect our position, essentially after we asked
them to use the Liberation Stadium at Elekahia, in
Port Harcourt City," Amaechi said.
In a similar development, the state PDP Chairman,
Mr. Felix Obuah, has confirmed that the party
would use the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium on
Wednesday.
Obuah disclosed this in a statement signed by his
Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Jerry Needam.
According to him, the reason given by Amaechi on
why he refused the party's request to use the
stadium was unacceptable, adding that the stadium
was built with state funds.