A
political career-threatening plot is building up against Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State ahead of the 2015 presidential race.
political career-threatening plot is building up against Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State ahead of the 2015 presidential race.
At least two of his counterparts in
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some ministers are co-ordinating the
plot aimed at checking what a party source yesterday called his “excesses and
political rascality.”
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some ministers are co-ordinating the
plot aimed at checking what a party source yesterday called his “excesses and
political rascality.”
The governor is widely believed to
have been pencilled down as the running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa
State in the 2015 race.
have been pencilled down as the running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa
State in the 2015 race.
Amaechi and the Minister of the Niger
Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, were recently locked in a dirty war of words over
the governor’s perceived ambition and the threat it portends for the second
term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, were recently locked in a dirty war of words over
the governor’s perceived ambition and the threat it portends for the second
term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Orubebe lashed out at Amaechi for
allegedly spending the resources of the people of Rivers State on extraneous
things and at the expense of those who elected him into office.
allegedly spending the resources of the people of Rivers State on extraneous
things and at the expense of those who elected him into office.
He also said that in the USA, once a
serving President indicates his interest in seeking a second term in office,
the whole of his party members throw their weight behind him.
serving President indicates his interest in seeking a second term in office,
the whole of his party members throw their weight behind him.
The current plot, according to
sources, was provoked by Amaechi’s alleged insubordination and disrespect for
President Jonathan, cold war with the President on boundary demarcation and oil
wells between Rivers and Bayelsa States, undermining the South-South agenda to
retain the presidency in 2015, and instigating the Nigerian Governors Forum, of
which he is Chairman, against the presidency on the Excess Crude Account and
Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) which has not taken-off effectively, and sponsoring
of crisis within the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP with a view to
hijacking the party’s structure ahead of 2015.
sources, was provoked by Amaechi’s alleged insubordination and disrespect for
President Jonathan, cold war with the President on boundary demarcation and oil
wells between Rivers and Bayelsa States, undermining the South-South agenda to
retain the presidency in 2015, and instigating the Nigerian Governors Forum, of
which he is Chairman, against the presidency on the Excess Crude Account and
Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) which has not taken-off effectively, and sponsoring
of crisis within the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP with a view to
hijacking the party’s structure ahead of 2015.
Sources said a four-dimensional
strategy has been put in place by some PDP hawks to deal with Amaechi including
demystifying him through impeachment by the House of Assembly; sponsoring of
revolt within the NGF; suspension of the governor from PDP for alleged
anti-party activities; and outright distraction of his administration through
internal crisis within the Rivers State Executive Council.
strategy has been put in place by some PDP hawks to deal with Amaechi including
demystifying him through impeachment by the House of Assembly; sponsoring of
revolt within the NGF; suspension of the governor from PDP for alleged
anti-party activities; and outright distraction of his administration through
internal crisis within the Rivers State Executive Council.
It was gathered that the recent verbal
assault on state governors by the Ijaw leader , Chief Edwin Clark was
‘tactically’ directed at Amaechi.
assault on state governors by the Ijaw leader , Chief Edwin Clark was
‘tactically’ directed at Amaechi.
A source, who spoke in confidence said:
“The moves against Amaechi are real. The plotters are alleging that the
governor has shown disrespect to the President four times including his open
confrontation with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan in Okrika.
“The moves against Amaechi are real. The plotters are alleging that the
governor has shown disrespect to the President four times including his open
confrontation with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan in Okrika.
“Another sin committed by Amaechi is
alleged meddling in Bayelsa State politics in 2012 when he backed ex-Governor
Timpreye Sylva against Governor Seriake Dickson, the anointed candidate of the
President.
alleged meddling in Bayelsa State politics in 2012 when he backed ex-Governor
Timpreye Sylva against Governor Seriake Dickson, the anointed candidate of the
President.
“While fence-mending was being done,
he accused presidency of ceding some oil wells belonging to Rivers to Bayelsa
State. Jonathan and his strategists felt bad that the image of the presidency
was dragged into it.
he accused presidency of ceding some oil wells belonging to Rivers to Bayelsa
State. Jonathan and his strategists felt bad that the image of the presidency
was dragged into it.
“The President was personally touched
by the press war such that he had to issue a statement absolving himself of any
complicity in the Soku Oil wells. But Amaechi appeared to have had an upper
hand in the media.”
by the press war such that he had to issue a statement absolving himself of any
complicity in the Soku Oil wells. But Amaechi appeared to have had an upper
hand in the media.”
Another source cited the recent crisis
of confidence between the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and
members of the National Working Committee (NWC) as an issue why some forces in
the party and the presidency are after Amaechi.
of confidence between the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and
members of the National Working Committee (NWC) as an issue why some forces in
the party and the presidency are after Amaechi.
The source said: “As a matter of fact,
the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, who was installed by Amaechi led the
revolt against Tukur. That was seen as an affront against the President, who is
the Leader of the party.”
the Deputy National Chairman of PDP, who was installed by Amaechi led the
revolt against Tukur. That was seen as an affront against the President, who is
the Leader of the party.”
But in a curious move, Tukur on Friday
arrived in Port Harcourt for a visit during which he inspected projects
executed by the Amaechi administration and commended him for his
‘performances.’
arrived in Port Harcourt for a visit during which he inspected projects
executed by the Amaechi administration and commended him for his
‘performances.’
However, a party source said:”In spite
of Tukur’s surprise visit to Rivers State, there is still a gulf between the
presidency and Amaechi.
of Tukur’s surprise visit to Rivers State, there is still a gulf between the
presidency and Amaechi.
“Although the visit may be a
rapprochement by Tukur, some loyalists of Jonathan are not ready to forgive
Amaechi.
rapprochement by Tukur, some loyalists of Jonathan are not ready to forgive
Amaechi.
“In fact, the rumoured presidential
aspiration of Governor Lamido-Amaechi ticket has made the presidency to be
permanently suspicious of the Rivers State governor. They know Amaechi to be a
long-distance runner.
aspiration of Governor Lamido-Amaechi ticket has made the presidency to be
permanently suspicious of the Rivers State governor. They know Amaechi to be a
long-distance runner.
“The face-off between the Minister of
Niger Delta Affairs over the East-West Road has earned Amaechi enemy’s tag. The
President was allegedly portrayed as not doing anything for his people.”
Niger Delta Affairs over the East-West Road has earned Amaechi enemy’s tag. The
President was allegedly portrayed as not doing anything for his people.”
It was gathered that anti-Amaechi
forces are trying to woo those rated as politically powerful in Rivers State
but abandoned or sidelined to fight the governor.
forces are trying to woo those rated as politically powerful in Rivers State
but abandoned or sidelined to fight the governor.
Speaking to reporters in Port Harcourt
yesterday Tukur described Amaechi as the best for him, and hailed his
achievements as excellent and fantastic.
yesterday Tukur described Amaechi as the best for him, and hailed his
achievements as excellent and fantastic.
Tukur inspected the new Kesley
Harrison Hospital, the ultra- modern Maxillo-Facial Dental Hospital, the Port
Harcourt-Owerri road, a 42 kilometre federal road done by the Amaechi
administration, the new model primary and secondary schools, one of the over
120 new Health Centres, Songhai Farm in Tai, Afam Power project, Obiri-Ikwerre
Interchange on the East –West road, and the over 38,000-seater new stadium
being constructed in the Greater Port Harcourt city.
Harrison Hospital, the ultra- modern Maxillo-Facial Dental Hospital, the Port
Harcourt-Owerri road, a 42 kilometre federal road done by the Amaechi
administration, the new model primary and secondary schools, one of the over
120 new Health Centres, Songhai Farm in Tai, Afam Power project, Obiri-Ikwerre
Interchange on the East –West road, and the over 38,000-seater new stadium
being constructed in the Greater Port Harcourt city.
He said with the level of social and
economic transformation in the state, Port Harcourt now ranks among developed
cities of the world.
economic transformation in the state, Port Harcourt now ranks among developed
cities of the world.
Speaking at a dinner party held in his
honour at Government House on friday Tukur declared that, PDP will never lose
to any party, if transformational leaders like Amaechi are boldly behind the
party.
honour at Government House on friday Tukur declared that, PDP will never lose
to any party, if transformational leaders like Amaechi are boldly behind the
party.
On his part, Amaechi assured Tukur
that PDP Governors will support and remain loyal to the party at all times,
urging him to always lead the party to victory.
that PDP Governors will support and remain loyal to the party at all times,
urging him to always lead the party to victory.
“We assure you that Governors will
support and remain loyal to the party, we need each other at such a challenging
moment,” he said.
support and remain loyal to the party, we need each other at such a challenging
moment,” he said.
Source:
The Nation
The Nation
