The
plot to remove Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman of the
Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is not over ,at least for now,according to
indications last night.
plot to remove Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman of the
Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is not over ,at least for now,according to
indications last night.
Although,the
first move to terminate his headship of the all- powerful forum on Thursday
ended in a victory for the governor, the anti-Amaechi forces have returned to
the drawing board to re-strategize.
first move to terminate his headship of the all- powerful forum on Thursday
ended in a victory for the governor, the anti-Amaechi forces have returned to
the drawing board to re-strategize.
Fresh
pressure is being mounted on the governors by political forces outside of the
NGF to put Amaechi “in his proper place.”
pressure is being mounted on the governors by political forces outside of the
NGF to put Amaechi “in his proper place.”
His ‘offence’
is his alleged presidential ambition ahead of 2015.
is his alleged presidential ambition ahead of 2015.
There
are speculations that he is being proposed as running mate to Governor Sule
Lamido of Jigawa State to seek the presidential ticket of the PDP.
are speculations that he is being proposed as running mate to Governor Sule
Lamido of Jigawa State to seek the presidential ticket of the PDP.
He abd
Lamido have dismissed the speculations.
Lamido have dismissed the speculations.
The
matter recently sparked a dirty war of words between Amaechi and the Minister
of Niger Delta Affairs,Elder Godsday Orubebe.
matter recently sparked a dirty war of words between Amaechi and the Minister
of Niger Delta Affairs,Elder Godsday Orubebe.
The
Nation gathered yesterday that the anti-Amaechi forces are not about to forgive
him for daring to threaten President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term
in office,moreso when the governor is from the South South like the President.
Nation gathered yesterday that the anti-Amaechi forces are not about to forgive
him for daring to threaten President Goodluck Jonathan’s bid for a second term
in office,moreso when the governor is from the South South like the President.
The
Governors Forum is already divided over the issue.
Governors Forum is already divided over the issue.
Rooting
for Amaechi are: Sule Lamido(Jigawa);Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso( Kano); Aliyu
Babangida( Niger); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa); Abiola
Ajimobi (Oyo);Adams Oshiomhole (Edo ); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos );Kayode Fayemi
(Ekiti); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun);Kassim Shettima
(Borno);
for Amaechi are: Sule Lamido(Jigawa);Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso( Kano); Aliyu
Babangida( Niger); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa); Abiola
Ajimobi (Oyo);Adams Oshiomhole (Edo ); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos );Kayode Fayemi
(Ekiti); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun);Kassim Shettima
(Borno);
Ibrahim
Gaidam (Yobe); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara); Rotimi Amaechi
(Rivers); and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).
Gaidam (Yobe); Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Abdulfatahi Ahmed (Kwara); Rotimi Amaechi
(Rivers); and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).
Against
him are: Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom);Henry Seriake-Dickson (Bayelsa); and
Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).
him are: Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom);Henry Seriake-Dickson (Bayelsa); and
Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).
The
position of the other governors is uncertain for now.
position of the other governors is uncertain for now.
The
pro-Amaechi governors are making their own move by launching a counter-move by
wooing their colleagues on the need to preserve the sanctity of the Forum.
pro-Amaechi governors are making their own move by launching a counter-move by
wooing their colleagues on the need to preserve the sanctity of the Forum.
Investigation
by our correspondent revealed that although no date has been fixed for the
election of a new chair for the NGF, horse-trading continued yesterday.
by our correspondent revealed that although no date has been fixed for the
election of a new chair for the NGF, horse-trading continued yesterday.
The
forces against Amaechi increased last night following what a source described
as the governor’s “holier-than-thou” attitude and disrespect for the
presidency.
forces against Amaechi increased last night following what a source described
as the governor’s “holier-than-thou” attitude and disrespect for the
presidency.
The
forces are of the opinion that with a good candidate, the governors could buy
into the “change” campaign to checkmate Amaechi.
forces are of the opinion that with a good candidate, the governors could buy
into the “change” campaign to checkmate Amaechi.
A
source said: “Consultations to get Amaechi out by some forces continued on
Friday. It was surprising that Amaechi could secure a simple majority to amend
the constitution of the NGF to allow its chairman to run for second term in
office.
source said: “Consultations to get Amaechi out by some forces continued on
Friday. It was surprising that Amaechi could secure a simple majority to amend
the constitution of the NGF to allow its chairman to run for second term in
office.
“With
the stage set for the election of a new chairman, they are looking for a
candidate who could challenge Amaechi and win the poll.
the stage set for the election of a new chairman, they are looking for a
candidate who could challenge Amaechi and win the poll.
“But
they have not been able to zero in on a candidate who could be acceptable to
the six parties that had produced governors. They are PDP, ACN, ANPP, APGA, CPC
and Labour Party.
they have not been able to zero in on a candidate who could be acceptable to
the six parties that had produced governors. They are PDP, ACN, ANPP, APGA, CPC
and Labour Party.
“To
destabilize Amaechi’s plan, some forces are contemplating ceding the
chairmanship to the opposition parties since there is no law which makes it
compulsory for the PDP to lead the Forum.”
destabilize Amaechi’s plan, some forces are contemplating ceding the
chairmanship to the opposition parties since there is no law which makes it
compulsory for the PDP to lead the Forum.”
Investigation
yesterday showed that three governors have openly identified with the need for
a change of leadership, 17 others(including Rivers slot are
be for Amaechi, and 16 are rated as match-makers whose votes could determine
the next chairman of the NGF.
yesterday showed that three governors have openly identified with the need for
a change of leadership, 17 others(including Rivers slot are
be for Amaechi, and 16 are rated as match-makers whose votes could determine
the next chairman of the NGF.
It was
learnt that pro-Amaechi governors were mostly drawn from members of the newly
formed All Progressives Congress(APC) and a few radical ones in the Peoples
Democratic Party(PDP) and those who have mutual respect for the Governor of
Rivers State like Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
learnt that pro-Amaechi governors were mostly drawn from members of the newly
formed All Progressives Congress(APC) and a few radical ones in the Peoples
Democratic Party(PDP) and those who have mutual respect for the Governor of
Rivers State like Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
The
match-makers, who none of the parties could predict their position as at press
time, are Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara); Isa Yuguda(Bauchi); Saidu Dakingari
(Kebbi)
match-makers, who none of the parties could predict their position as at press
time, are Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara); Isa Yuguda(Bauchi); Saidu Dakingari
(Kebbi)
Ramalan
Yero (Kaduna); Idris Wada (Kogi); Jonah Jang(Plateau); Gabriel Suswam(Benue);
Peter Obi(Anambra); Theodore Orji (Abia); Martin Elechi(Ebonyi); Liyel
Imoke(Cross River); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto)
Yero (Kaduna); Idris Wada (Kogi); Jonah Jang(Plateau); Gabriel Suswam(Benue);
Peter Obi(Anambra); Theodore Orji (Abia); Martin Elechi(Ebonyi); Liyel
Imoke(Cross River); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto)
Garba
Umar (Taraba); Sullivan Chime ( Enugu ); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).
Umar (Taraba); Sullivan Chime ( Enugu ); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).
Another
source gave an insight into why some forces are desperate to remove Amaechi and
what could make the election dicey.
source gave an insight into why some forces are desperate to remove Amaechi and
what could make the election dicey.
The
source said: “The race for the NGF chair is dicey because a simple majority is
needed to crown a new leader. With the forces against Amaechi, he has to work
hard to secure this simple majority of the votes.
source said: “The race for the NGF chair is dicey because a simple majority is
needed to crown a new leader. With the forces against Amaechi, he has to work
hard to secure this simple majority of the votes.
“Since
the rumours of a likely Governor Sule Lamido-Amaechi joint presidential ticket
in 2015 filtered out, the presidency has been unsettled by the threat posed to
the second term aspiration of President Jonathan. Although the two governors
have denied any aspiration for the presidency, Jonathan and his foot-soldiers
are not taking it lightly. They have been treating every action and utterances
of Amaechi with suspicion.
the rumours of a likely Governor Sule Lamido-Amaechi joint presidential ticket
in 2015 filtered out, the presidency has been unsettled by the threat posed to
the second term aspiration of President Jonathan. Although the two governors
have denied any aspiration for the presidency, Jonathan and his foot-soldiers
are not taking it lightly. They have been treating every action and utterances
of Amaechi with suspicion.
“Other
sins of Amaechi are the row with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan over
the demolition of the Waterfront in Okrika; support for a former Governor of
Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva when he was battling for political survival
against President Jonathan; the crisis between Bayelsa and Rivers over oil
wells which almost dented the image of the presidency; the disagreement between
the Governors Forum and the President on Excess Crude Account, Sovereign Wealth
Fund and constitution amendment on tenure system; cold war with the Minister of
Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe over East-West Road; holding the
presidency to ransome during the election of the National Chairman of PDP,
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and members of the National Working Committee(NWC) and the
hijack of PDP structure by governors elected on the platform of the party.
sins of Amaechi are the row with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan over
the demolition of the Waterfront in Okrika; support for a former Governor of
Bayelsa State, Timipreye Sylva when he was battling for political survival
against President Jonathan; the crisis between Bayelsa and Rivers over oil
wells which almost dented the image of the presidency; the disagreement between
the Governors Forum and the President on Excess Crude Account, Sovereign Wealth
Fund and constitution amendment on tenure system; cold war with the Minister of
Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe over East-West Road; holding the
presidency to ransome during the election of the National Chairman of PDP,
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and members of the National Working Committee(NWC) and the
hijack of PDP structure by governors elected on the platform of the party.
The
face-off with Orubebe exposed the desperation of some forces to deal with
Amaechi.
face-off with Orubebe exposed the desperation of some forces to deal with
Amaechi.
Orubebe
had said in part: “Unfortunately, the man (Amaechi) has forgotten that it was
by the grace of God that he became the governor of Rivers State . He has
forgotten so soon. He has arrogated to himself, powers that he does not have.
It is God that has powers.
had said in part: “Unfortunately, the man (Amaechi) has forgotten that it was
by the grace of God that he became the governor of Rivers State . He has
forgotten so soon. He has arrogated to himself, powers that he does not have.
It is God that has powers.
“Today,
he sees himself as the governor of governors and he begins to feel that he is
even bigger than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But I want
to let him know that God is still God. He must have respect for the Presidency.
He must have respect for the President of this country.
he sees himself as the governor of governors and he begins to feel that he is
even bigger than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But I want
to let him know that God is still God. He must have respect for the Presidency.
He must have respect for the President of this country.
“It is
sad. It is unfortunate that people from the South-South, even governors,
particularly Governor Rotimi Amaechi, have no respect for the President of this
country. I think this is the right time we should let him know and I have
decided to speak because this is the time to speak.”
sad. It is unfortunate that people from the South-South, even governors,
particularly Governor Rotimi Amaechi, have no respect for the President of this
country. I think this is the right time we should let him know and I have
decided to speak because this is the time to speak.”
Source: The Nation
