The
Presidency has initiated a fresh move to ensure that Rivers State
Governor Rotimi Amaechi does not retain his post as Chairman of the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
Presidency has initiated a fresh move to ensure that Rivers State
Governor Rotimi Amaechi does not retain his post as Chairman of the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
It was gathered that ahead of the fifth meeting of
the NGF slated for Wednesday, 15 state governors met with President
Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night in Abuja.
the NGF slated for Wednesday, 15 state governors met with President
Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night in Abuja.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa
Ibom State-led the delegation which had Governor Peter Obi of Anambra
State as the only non-PDP governor in attendance.
Ibom State-led the delegation which had Governor Peter Obi of Anambra
State as the only non-PDP governor in attendance.
A source privy to the meeting confided in one of our
correspondents that the Forum which was preceded by a special
dinner was “essentially to mobilise support for the emergence of Katsina State
Governor Ibrahim Shema as the next chairman of the NGF.”
correspondents that the Forum which was preceded by a special
dinner was “essentially to mobilise support for the emergence of Katsina State
Governor Ibrahim Shema as the next chairman of the NGF.”
He said, “We have been able to secure the understanding of our
governors especially our brothers from the North. I believe for the sake
of balance, it makes a lot of sense to have a northern PDP governor
as chairman of the NGF because we already have Governor Akpabio, a
Southerner as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.”
governors especially our brothers from the North. I believe for the sake
of balance, it makes a lot of sense to have a northern PDP governor
as chairman of the NGF because we already have Governor Akpabio, a
Southerner as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.”
The source noted that members of the NGF in opposition political
parties were 10 out of the 36 governors in the country. He added
that at least two governors in the opposition parties were likely
to throw their weight behind any candidate supported by the PDP.
parties were 10 out of the 36 governors in the country. He added
that at least two governors in the opposition parties were likely
to throw their weight behind any candidate supported by the PDP.
Our correspondents also gathered that as the NGF meets in
Abuja tomorrow, the issue of election has again been deferred as it is
currently not on the agenda.
Abuja tomorrow, the issue of election has again been deferred as it is
currently not on the agenda.
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed
Gulak, said that Presidency’s interest was in upholding the rule of
law.
Gulak, said that Presidency’s interest was in upholding the rule of
law.
According to him, the President as a loyal member of the PDP,
will be delighted to have another PDP governor taking over from Amaechi as the
NGF chairman as his tenure draws to a close.
will be delighted to have another PDP governor taking over from Amaechi as the
NGF chairman as his tenure draws to a close.
Gulak said the President was ready to work with any of the
governors of the PDP that would eventually replace the Rivers State
governor.
governors of the PDP that would eventually replace the Rivers State
governor.
When asked whether Jonathan would be ready to work with the
embattled chairman of the NGF if re-elected, the presidential aide said the
issue of re-election of Amaechi did not arise.
embattled chairman of the NGF if re-elected, the presidential aide said the
issue of re-election of Amaechi did not arise.
Gulak said, “The fact that the President met with the PDP
governors was an indication that he is united with the governors. When has it
become an aberration for him to meet the governors?
governors was an indication that he is united with the governors. When has it
become an aberration for him to meet the governors?
“It is not about removing Amaechi. Amaechi’s tenure as NGF
chairman is ending this April, so nobody is talking about his removal. When
Bukola Saraki’s tenure ended, he handed over to Amaechi. Since Amaechi’s tenure
is ending too, he must hand over to somebody else.
chairman is ending this April, so nobody is talking about his removal. When
Bukola Saraki’s tenure ended, he handed over to Amaechi. Since Amaechi’s tenure
is ending too, he must hand over to somebody else.
“The President is interested in any PDP governor, not
necessarily Shema, taking over from Amaechi at the expiration of his tenure.
There is no re-election for Amaechi. His tenure has expired except if he wants
to extend his tenure and there is no tenure elongation in the NGF.”
necessarily Shema, taking over from Amaechi at the expiration of his tenure.
There is no re-election for Amaechi. His tenure has expired except if he wants
to extend his tenure and there is no tenure elongation in the NGF.”
However, efforts to get the Rivers State Commissioner for
Information and Commnications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, and the Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, to react to Gulak’s statement were
not fruitful.
Information and Commnications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, and the Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor, Mr. David Iyofor, to react to Gulak’s statement were
not fruitful.
While a personal assistant to the commissioner said Semenitari
was indisposed, Iyofor, who promised to call one of our correspondents back,
did not do so.
was indisposed, Iyofor, who promised to call one of our correspondents back,
did not do so.
But a dependable source in Rivers State Government
House, Port Harcourt confided in The
PUNCH that Amaechi was keen
on seeking re-election as the forum’s chairman.
House, Port Harcourt confided in The
PUNCH that Amaechi was keen
on seeking re-election as the forum’s chairman.
The source, who claimed that a part of the rules governing
the forum had long been altered to accommodate any incumbent
chairman seeking a second term to do so.
the forum had long been altered to accommodate any incumbent
chairman seeking a second term to do so.
He added, “I can tell you that the governor will not be stampeded
into quitting. He will prefer to stand the election and be defeated
than shying away from it because some outsiders are now interested in
displacing him. Mind you, Governor Amaechi is a good fighter.”
into quitting. He will prefer to stand the election and be defeated
than shying away from it because some outsiders are now interested in
displacing him. Mind you, Governor Amaechi is a good fighter.”
The PDP had in its bid to whittle down Amaechi influence as NGF
chairman created the forum of its governors headed by Akpabio. Two weeks
ago, a court sacked Ameachi’s loyalists
from the helm of affairs at the Rivers State chapter of the PDP.
chairman created the forum of its governors headed by Akpabio. Two weeks
ago, a court sacked Ameachi’s loyalists
from the helm of affairs at the Rivers State chapter of the PDP.
It took only 24 hours for the national secretariat of
the PDP to inaugurate a new executive council of the party in the
state.
the PDP to inaugurate a new executive council of the party in the
state.
Source: Punch
