Rivers
State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has ruled out the possibility of having a violent
revolution in the country.
State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has ruled out the possibility of having a violent
revolution in the country.
Amaechi
spoke in Ekiti State on Saturday at the second Nigeria Symposium for Young and
Emerging Leaders.
spoke in Ekiti State on Saturday at the second Nigeria Symposium for Young and
Emerging Leaders.
Ekiti
State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Prof. Pat Utomi, Chief Executive Officer of
Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, and representative of Delta State Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others, attended the symposium, organised by The
Future Project.
State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Prof. Pat Utomi, Chief Executive Officer of
Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole, and representative of Delta State Governor
Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others, attended the symposium, organised by The
Future Project.
Amaechi
said many Nigerians had become used to suffering rather than pushing for a change.
said many Nigerians had become used to suffering rather than pushing for a change.
According
to him, Nigeria has experienced worse situations than what led to revolution in
some other countries.
to him, Nigeria has experienced worse situations than what led to revolution in
some other countries.
Amaechi
said he was sure that those who gathered to protest against the removal of oil
subsidy in January 2012 would flee immediately the President drafted soldiers
to the Freedom Park in Lagos and other states to quell the uprising.
said he was sure that those who gathered to protest against the removal of oil
subsidy in January 2012 would flee immediately the President drafted soldiers
to the Freedom Park in Lagos and other states to quell the uprising.
He
said, “Yes, revolution can happen outside Nigeria. But here, I do not think so.
Tell me what happened in Sudan, Libya, Zimbabwe and other countries that have not
happened here. Our elasticity has no limit. You do not pray for electricity to
be regular but you know that some Nigerians pray ‘God, let the light be stable
today.’ We pray without working to solve our problems and we think God
will do what we are supposed to do for us.”
said, “Yes, revolution can happen outside Nigeria. But here, I do not think so.
Tell me what happened in Sudan, Libya, Zimbabwe and other countries that have not
happened here. Our elasticity has no limit. You do not pray for electricity to
be regular but you know that some Nigerians pray ‘God, let the light be stable
today.’ We pray without working to solve our problems and we think God
will do what we are supposed to do for us.”
Noting
that courage was required to make any change, he said those who were truly
seeking a change would never be afraid of guns.
that courage was required to make any change, he said those who were truly
seeking a change would never be afraid of guns.
The
governor, however, said he was not in support of the call for the
disintegration of the country, saying there were many advantages in being
together.
governor, however, said he was not in support of the call for the
disintegration of the country, saying there were many advantages in being
together.
Meanwhile,
Presidency on Sunday faulted the claim by Amaechi that Nigeria was gradually
sliding back to the era of dictatorship.
Presidency on Sunday faulted the claim by Amaechi that Nigeria was gradually
sliding back to the era of dictatorship.
Before
reading his speech where he was honoured with the Vanguard Personality of the
Year Award in Lagos on Saturday, Amaechi was said to have explained that he
decided to read a prepared speech, because “I am becoming more careful, given
that we are gradually going back to the era of dictatorship in this country”.
reading his speech where he was honoured with the Vanguard Personality of the
Year Award in Lagos on Saturday, Amaechi was said to have explained that he
decided to read a prepared speech, because “I am becoming more careful, given
that we are gradually going back to the era of dictatorship in this country”.
But in
an interview with one of our correspondents, the Special Adviser to the
President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said the governor could not have
been referring to the President.
an interview with one of our correspondents, the Special Adviser to the
President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, said the governor could not have
been referring to the President.
Gulak
said so far, the President had been ruling the country by adhering strictly to
the nation’s constitution.
said so far, the President had been ruling the country by adhering strictly to
the nation’s constitution.
He said
Jonathan, in the spirit of democracy, has also been consulting widely before he
takes any decision and so could not be said to be a dictator.
Jonathan, in the spirit of democracy, has also been consulting widely before he
takes any decision and so could not be said to be a dictator.
The
presidential aide said since Amaechi was one of those ruling the country by
virtue of being a governor, he might be admitting by his statement that he was
ruling his state like a dictator.
presidential aide said since Amaechi was one of those ruling the country by
virtue of being a governor, he might be admitting by his statement that he was
ruling his state like a dictator.
He
said, “As a governor, Amaechi is one of those ruling this country. Is he
admitting that he is a dictator in his state?
said, “As a governor, Amaechi is one of those ruling this country. Is he
admitting that he is a dictator in his state?
“We are
in a democratic administration. We are ruling by the constitution. The
President is committed to the rule of law. I am not sure the governor is
referring to the President.”
in a democratic administration. We are ruling by the constitution. The
President is committed to the rule of law. I am not sure the governor is
referring to the President.”
Source: Punch
