Rivers
State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, at the weekend explained why the
presidency is pushing for his ouster as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’
Forum (NGF).
State Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, at the weekend explained why the
presidency is pushing for his ouster as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’
Forum (NGF).
He said at a symposium in Ikogosi, Ekiti State, that the
presidency was uncomfortable with his leadership of the forum because of his
opposition to deductions from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the litigation
by the states of the federation against the establishment of the Sovereign
Wealth Fund (SWF), from which the federal government has taken out $1 billion
from ECA as its seed capital.
presidency was uncomfortable with his leadership of the forum because of his
opposition to deductions from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the litigation
by the states of the federation against the establishment of the Sovereign
Wealth Fund (SWF), from which the federal government has taken out $1 billion
from ECA as its seed capital.
He added that he incurred the wrath of the presidency because he
also advocated that states should be allowed access to those funds rather than
for the federal government to manage them on their behalf.
also advocated that states should be allowed access to those funds rather than
for the federal government to manage them on their behalf.
Amaechi, who spoke at a programme tagged “The Nigeria Symposium
for Youth and Emerging Leaders,” organised by The Future Project, said his
radical stand on some issues should not have been misinterpreted as an attempt
to flex muscles with the federal government.
for Youth and Emerging Leaders,” organised by The Future Project, said his
radical stand on some issues should not have been misinterpreted as an attempt
to flex muscles with the federal government.
The presidency, in cahoots with the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) had made attempts to remove Amaechi to no avail following the
support he got from his colleagues in the NGF.
Party (PDP) had made attempts to remove Amaechi to no avail following the
support he got from his colleagues in the NGF.
The NGF chairmanship election was postponed until May after a
meeting of the governors on February 25 to elect a new chairman was stalled by
differences between pro-Amaechi governors and those that backed the presidency
against the Rivers State governor.
meeting of the governors on February 25 to elect a new chairman was stalled by
differences between pro-Amaechi governors and those that backed the presidency
against the Rivers State governor.
As part of the plot to unseat Amaechi, the party and the
presidency last February, had engineered the formation of the PDP Governors’
Forum (PDP-GF), with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, picked
as its chairman, at a meeting held at the State House, which was said to have
been presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
presidency last February, had engineered the formation of the PDP Governors’
Forum (PDP-GF), with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, picked
as its chairman, at a meeting held at the State House, which was said to have
been presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The emergence of the new forum was seen as an attempt to weaken
the pan-governors’ forum.
the pan-governors’ forum.
With the failed attempt to oust Amaechi, the PDP had come up
with a new plot to unseat him by sponsoring amendments to the NGF’s
constitution so that the party with majority members would have the right to
present a consensus candidate as the NGF chairman. The PDP has 23 governors in
the 36-member forum.
with a new plot to unseat him by sponsoring amendments to the NGF’s
constitution so that the party with majority members would have the right to
present a consensus candidate as the NGF chairman. The PDP has 23 governors in
the 36-member forum.
It was also gathered that ahead of the May date for the planned
election of the NGF chairman, PDP, besides pushing for the right to present a
consensus candidate as the forum’s chairman, is also proposing an amendment to
the constitution of the forum that would limit the tenure of an NGF chairman to
a single term of two years, with no option of re-election.
election of the NGF chairman, PDP, besides pushing for the right to present a
consensus candidate as the forum’s chairman, is also proposing an amendment to
the constitution of the forum that would limit the tenure of an NGF chairman to
a single term of two years, with no option of re-election.
The party, in addition, wants a stipulation in the NGF
constitution that an incumbent chairman shall step down before a chairmanship
election to pave the way for an election committee to conduct the election to
the leadership positions of the forum.
constitution that an incumbent chairman shall step down before a chairmanship
election to pave the way for an election committee to conduct the election to
the leadership positions of the forum.
If the proposal is accepted, Amaechi would not be eligible to
seek re-election while the PDP-GF, which is searching for a consensus
candidate, would present a candidate to replace him.
seek re-election while the PDP-GF, which is searching for a consensus
candidate, would present a candidate to replace him.
Amaechi said his goal in championing the cause of the NGF was
aimed at ensuring that the right thing was done, so that the already decadent
system being run in the country could be reformed.
aimed at ensuring that the right thing was done, so that the already decadent
system being run in the country could be reformed.
The governor, also at the symposium, defended the governors’
support for Jonathan towards the deregulation of the downstream sector of the
oil industry in January 2012, saying that they had to do so owing to the way
some unscrupulous businessmen were frittering away trillions of naira at the
expense of Nigerians.
support for Jonathan towards the deregulation of the downstream sector of the
oil industry in January 2012, saying that they had to do so owing to the way
some unscrupulous businessmen were frittering away trillions of naira at the
expense of Nigerians.
He expressed resentment at how some businessmen had allegedly
swindled Nigeria of over N1.4 trillion in oil subsidy funds, describing this as
a criminal act that must be checked at all cost.
swindled Nigeria of over N1.4 trillion in oil subsidy funds, describing this as
a criminal act that must be checked at all cost.
He said: “When government is being criticised in some areas, it
means people are calling for adjustment and reform in that sector, but stealing
of government money to me is criminal. And I believe that such stealing cannot
be reformed, it has to be stopped.”
means people are calling for adjustment and reform in that sector, but stealing
of government money to me is criminal. And I believe that such stealing cannot
be reformed, it has to be stopped.”
Speaking further at the ceremony attended by youth groups, he
said criminal acts such as kidnapping, militancy and terrorism would continue
to fester in Nigeria, except “government provides legitimate means of
livelihood for the youth, so that they will not use illegitimate means to earn
a living.”
said criminal acts such as kidnapping, militancy and terrorism would continue
to fester in Nigeria, except “government provides legitimate means of
livelihood for the youth, so that they will not use illegitimate means to earn
a living.”
He warned students against using the National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS) as a platform to fraternise with government, saying
politicising the body, which he said should be a mass movement, could be
counterproductive.
Nigerian Students (NANS) as a platform to fraternise with government, saying
politicising the body, which he said should be a mass movement, could be
counterproductive.
While preaching against a bloody revolution and the break-up of
the country as being canvassed by some people, he urged youths to take their
destiny in their hands by forming a mass movement that would fight for change.
the country as being canvassed by some people, he urged youths to take their
destiny in their hands by forming a mass movement that would fight for change.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who also spoke on the
occasion, advised the youth to always fight for good governance and ensure that
they are prepared to pay any price to achieve the socio-economic emancipation
of the people.
occasion, advised the youth to always fight for good governance and ensure that
they are prepared to pay any price to achieve the socio-economic emancipation
of the people.
Fayemi said the youth should not be disenchanted by the
misdemeanour of the few charlatans who found their ways into positions of
leadership, saying they should “always embrace leaders with clarity of vision
and who display confidence and competence in governance.”
misdemeanour of the few charlatans who found their ways into positions of
leadership, saying they should “always embrace leaders with clarity of vision
and who display confidence and competence in governance.”
Source: Thisday
