Prince Tonye Princewill has condemned in strong terms the vitriolic attack
\nagainst him and the threat to his life by the Commissioner of Information
\nin Rivers State Ibim Semenetari during today’s Rhythm 93.7, viewpoint
\nprogramme – a news, interview, phone-in and current affairs programme.
\nIn a statement this evening of 8th Feb. 2014, Wabiye Idoniboye-Obu,
\nPersonal Assistant on Media and Publicity to Princewill said, “In a recent
\ninterview on Viewpoint, Prince Tonye articulated his view on the Rivers
\ncrisis and tried to share with Rivers people the reason why the current
\nattempts to paint the President black were not only disingenuous but not in
\nthe interest of Rivers people. He went further to highlight that his
\ndisagreement with the Governor was not personal but based on the principle
\nof calling a spade a spade, and just as he had often commended him for the
\ngood works he had done, he would also chastise him whenever he did not.
\nThat applies to his recent position”.<\/p>\n
The full text of the Press release reads:
\n“This has been his consistent theme in Rivers state. When the Governor said
\nthat all our militants were criminals, he disagreed; when he celebrated the
\nbuilding of schools and hospitals, the Prince suggested we wait first wait
\nfor full functionality; when the Governor decided to buy a new plane, he
\nprotested. He didn’t stop there. When the Governor decided to be the
\nspokesperson for the opposition while in PDP, Tonye advised against it, and
\nwhen he decided to sack the Obio Akpor council, again the Prince said it
\nwas wrong. In all cases he told him privately before saying it publicly –
\nfor the record.<\/p>\n
“That is why the vitriolic attack by Ibim Semenitari on this Saturday’s
\nviewpoint programme was most unfortunate and embarrassing to us as Rivers
\npeople. The Prince’s recent stand not to move to APC and not to fight the
\nPresident should not warrant the kind of response it is getting from a
\nwhole government spokesperson, who really should be busy doing several
\nother things. Nothing the Prince has said has directed personal attacks at
\nanyone in Rivers state Government. What was she thinking?<\/p>\n
“A prominent Niger Delta activist called the Prince recently to tell him
\nthat he had been threatened by someone very high up in Rivers state
\ngovernment for something he was supposed to have said and that he the
\nPrince had been mentioned within the threat as well. Before now, we would
\nhave laughed it off as ridiculous but after today’s interview, we are not
\nso sure. Such a vicious attack today on radio from a lady who we had
\npreviously viewed with high regard only suggests that this crisis has
\nbrought out the worst in our government leaders. Tolerance has been thrown
\nout the window and criticism is no longer heard even if it is constructive.
\nJust like our friend Tony Uranta, the Prince must now live in fear of his
\nlife.<\/p>\n
“We have since tabled documents before Rhythm 93.7, and reacted for the
\nrecords to demonstrate the truth in the Prince’s comments and the holes in
\nhers. While we await her evidence to back her claims, the issue no doubt
\nwill be the subject of legal proceedings so that Rivers people can see for
\nthemselves who is really telling the truth. In addition to legal advice we
\nhave also taken other advice and written to the IG and the Director, SSS.
\nWe feel prompted to do so because people who are prepared to go to this
\nlength to smear your character don’t mean well for you. An angry man
\nis a threat.
\nAn angry government has an ability to carry out that threat.<\/p>\n
“Claiming that the Prince is angry because the Governor took contracts away
\nfrom him trivializes the situation and is akin to clutching at straws. What
\na coincidence she comes out now on the same program barely a week after his
\npublic opposition to Rivers State Government’s anti Johnathan stance.
\nRather than the waste management contract or any other contract taken from
\nhim; it is clear from the documents below that it is the Commissioner of
\nInformation that has sought to misinform.<\/p>\n
“This is just the beginning”.<\/p>\n
The link to Prince Tonye Princewill’s interview:
\n