by Adeola Balogun

Following a statement credited to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State in which he reportedly said that the final decision on his defecting from or staying with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lay in the President’s hands, the Presidency has issued a statement saying that Governor Amaechi was free to leave the PDP.

[READ:Jonathan has the final say – Amaechi tells APC leaders after Rivers visit]

This response was delivered yesterday by the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, during an interview.

Gulak said that Amaechi was guilty of anti-party activities and that he did not involve the President in the invitation of the APC leaders so he should as well leave him out of the decision to defect or not.

Nigerian Eye reports:

He said it was unfortunate that the governor did not understand the gravity of the voyage he had embarked upon.

The President’s aide said, “Governor Amaechi did not consult the President before inviting APC leaders to Rivers State and giving them tumultuous welcome, so he does not need to consult the President before joining APC because he knows that the President will not allow any PDP member to go to APC.

“Governor Amaechi is at liberty to join APC. This is belittling the issue. We are not small boys; we are in a serious business of politics.

“You cannot as a governor on the platform of PDP invite APC leaders to your state and make a show of it and now say that you will consult the President who is the leader of the PDP before you join APC.