Facts emerging show how the first lady,
Dame Patience Jonathan, allegedly influenced the suspension of Rivers State
governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Amaechi was
suspended by the National Working Committee (NWC) this Monday on the grounds
that he violated Articles 58 1(b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP. But the
suspension was largely seen as a direct fallout of the election of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum (NGF) which Amaechi won.
Dame Patience Jonathan, allegedly influenced the suspension of Rivers State
governor Rotimi Amaechi by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Amaechi was
suspended by the National Working Committee (NWC) this Monday on the grounds
that he violated Articles 58 1(b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP. But the
suspension was largely seen as a direct fallout of the election of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum (NGF) which Amaechi won.
A highly placed source disclosed to
LEADERSHIP that a bitter Mrs Jonathan allegedly summoned the members of the NWC
and handed down a stern directive to them to immediately place the embattled
governor on suspension after Amaechi emerged victorious in the NGF election.
LEADERSHIP that a bitter Mrs Jonathan allegedly summoned the members of the NWC
and handed down a stern directive to them to immediately place the embattled
governor on suspension after Amaechi emerged victorious in the NGF election.
But the directive, according to the
source, threw the NWC members into confusion as to what “sins” would be adduced
as reason for such action. Some of them, it was disclosed, attempted to argue
against it on the basis that such an “extreme measure” was too hasty and that
anchoring the reasons on Amaechi’s victory at the NGF polls would portray the
NWC as childish.
source, threw the NWC members into confusion as to what “sins” would be adduced
as reason for such action. Some of them, it was disclosed, attempted to argue
against it on the basis that such an “extreme measure” was too hasty and that
anchoring the reasons on Amaechi’s victory at the NGF polls would portray the
NWC as childish.
“It became a case of what and what
reason will be strong enough to justify the suspension; even at that, some members
suggested that the governor should first of all be summoned to appear before a
disciplinary committee of the party before any suspension. Yet somebody was
said to have reminded the members that there is no subsisting disciplinary
committee in place,” said the source.
reason will be strong enough to justify the suspension; even at that, some members
suggested that the governor should first of all be summoned to appear before a
disciplinary committee of the party before any suspension. Yet somebody was
said to have reminded the members that there is no subsisting disciplinary
committee in place,” said the source.
At this point, continued the source, a
certain petition generated by the newly inaugurated executive of the party in
the state, which had been lying unattended to in the secretariat, was exhumed.
The content of the petition, which has to do with the failure of the governor
to reinstate the suspended elected executive of the Obio/Akpor council became
very fanciful and presented an explainable reason for Amaechi’s suspension, the
source added.
certain petition generated by the newly inaugurated executive of the party in
the state, which had been lying unattended to in the secretariat, was exhumed.
The content of the petition, which has to do with the failure of the governor
to reinstate the suspended elected executive of the Obio/Akpor council became
very fanciful and presented an explainable reason for Amaechi’s suspension, the
source added.
LEADERSHIP was told that what was done
was entirely to please the first lady who allegedly has not hidden her intent
to even remove Amaechi from office.
was entirely to please the first lady who allegedly has not hidden her intent
to even remove Amaechi from office.
One of such moves, the source continued,
was when Mrs Jonathan allegedly met some security chiefs in Yenagoa, the
Bayelsa State capital, and instructed them to effect the removal of the
governor immediately. “On this, she was politely rebuffed when she was reminded
that, in a democracy, it is the lot of only the state House of Assembly to
effect the removal of a state governor through impeachment.
was when Mrs Jonathan allegedly met some security chiefs in Yenagoa, the
Bayelsa State capital, and instructed them to effect the removal of the
governor immediately. “On this, she was politely rebuffed when she was reminded
that, in a democracy, it is the lot of only the state House of Assembly to
effect the removal of a state governor through impeachment.
Besides, some highly placed Nigerians in
government who were placed in the know of the development because of the
persistent pressure by the first lady warned the service chiefs to steer clear
of the democratic structures and ensure that they cleared any such directive
with the president and commander-in-chief whom they are answerable to.
government who were placed in the know of the development because of the
persistent pressure by the first lady warned the service chiefs to steer clear
of the democratic structures and ensure that they cleared any such directive
with the president and commander-in-chief whom they are answerable to.
“The issue of clearing from the
president became necessary because of the frequency with which the first lady
allegedly hands down some directives on the pretext that it originated from Mr
President. On many occasions, the woman had had cause to assign some
‘very bizarre’ duties using the president as a backup.
president became necessary because of the frequency with which the first lady
allegedly hands down some directives on the pretext that it originated from Mr
President. On many occasions, the woman had had cause to assign some
‘very bizarre’ duties using the president as a backup.
It got to a hilt that sometimes the
president feigned ignorance of such development, at which time it had become
too late, as the deed had been done. The implication is that the issue of
Amaechi was a plot finally consummated as it was an old-time project allegedly
spearheaded by Mrs Jonathan,” the source added.
president feigned ignorance of such development, at which time it had become
too late, as the deed had been done. The implication is that the issue of
Amaechi was a plot finally consummated as it was an old-time project allegedly
spearheaded by Mrs Jonathan,” the source added.
However, the suspension, the source
further revealed, is already generating frightening ripple effects. The NWC is
said to be divided down the line, but the members are afraid to revolt in the
open. Some of them are said to be miffed at the development and suspect that
the first lady may grow to become so overbearing in the party in the days to
come, if not checked. “The Amaechi saga is a test case and is a signal that it
could get to a time when the party would be used to settle scores, even
personal ones at that,” the source stated.
further revealed, is already generating frightening ripple effects. The NWC is
said to be divided down the line, but the members are afraid to revolt in the
open. Some of them are said to be miffed at the development and suspect that
the first lady may grow to become so overbearing in the party in the days to
come, if not checked. “The Amaechi saga is a test case and is a signal that it
could get to a time when the party would be used to settle scores, even
personal ones at that,” the source stated.
Efforts made to get a response from the
spokesman of the first lady, Mr Ayo Asinlu, were futile at press time as he
neither picked several calls to his phone nor responded to text messages sent
to him.
spokesman of the first lady, Mr Ayo Asinlu, were futile at press time as he
neither picked several calls to his phone nor responded to text messages sent
to him.
Source: Leadership
