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Tag: Amaechi

  • Screening of ministerial nominees begins on Oct 13

    Screening of ministerial nominees begins on Oct 13

    Screening of the ministerial nominees is to commence on Tuesday, October 13.

    Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki announced the screening date after announcing the names of the nominees contained in the letter from President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the curriculum vitae of the nominees will be circulated to the Senators ahead of the screening.

    The nominees are :

    Babatunde Fashola

    Rotimi Amaechi

    Dr Kayode Fayemi

    Senator Chris Ngige

    Dr Ogbonaya Onu

    Malami Abubakar (SAN)

    Aisha Jumai Alhassan

    Mrs Amina Mohammed Ibrahim

    Mrs Kemi Adeosun

    Emmanuel Kachikwu

    Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau (rtd)

    Senator Hadi Sirika

    Dr Osagie Ehanire

    Senator Udoma Udo-Udoma

    Ahmed Isa Ibeto

    Engineer Sulaiman Adamu

    Ibrahim Usman Jibril

    Adebayo Shittu

    Chief Audu Ogbeh

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed

    Solomon Dalong

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Ministers” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

     

  • Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola, Onu make ministerial list

    Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola, Onu make ministerial list

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday received the first set of names of would-be ministers to be screened by lawmakers.

    The list was presented to him after plenary at about 5pm by the President’s  Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on National Assembly Matters Ita Enang.

    On his twitter handle at about 5:20 p.m, Saraki wrote: “I can now confirm that I just received the list of ministerial nominees.”

    The list was submitted in a sealed envelope by  Kyari and Enang.

    The Senate President’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: “Dr. Saraki, following the tradition of the Senate, decided that the envelope will remain sealed till Tuesday October 6, when during the plenary sitting of the Upper legislative chamber, it will be opened and the list read to Senators.”

    But sources last night said key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ex-senators, technocrats and ex-governors are on the list.

    APC chief and former Minister Mr. Audu Ogbeh; Southeast APC leader Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Director General of the Buhari campaign organisation and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi are likely to be on the list.

    Others presented for senators’ screening are former Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti);  former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr. Abubakar Malami.

    Three women – a former Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan and Mrs Amina J. Mohammed, Special Assistant to UN Secretary General on Post-2015 Development Planning are also ministerial nominees.

    Mrs Amina Mohammed, born 1961, was appointed to her role with the UN secretary general in June 2012.

    The mother of six previously worked for six years with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    Incidentally, Mrs Adeosun’s name is also on the list of commissioner-nominees sent to the Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Amaechi and Fayemi were on the trip to the 70th United Nations General Assembly in NewYork with President Muhammadu Buhari. The delegation returned yesterday.

    Others on the list are  Senator Hadi Sirika, a pilot, who represented Katsina North in the senate between 2011 and 2015. He was elected on the ticket of Buhari’s former party, the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) and a former Anambra State Governor Chris Nwabueze Ngige. Ngige, a medical doctor, was also a senator between 2011 and 2015.

    There are also Solomon Dalong and Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who is likely to be Minister of State for Petroleum.Buhari has announced himself as oil minister.

    Osagie Ehanire, Udoma Udo-Udoma, Ahmed Isa Ibeto, Sulaiman Adamu and Ibrahim Jibril are also on the list, according to sources.

  • Amaechi: I won’t allow Wike to destroy my name

    Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has challenged his successor, Nyesom Wike, to charge him to court, if he has evidence of corruption against him.

    Amaechi, who was among the 22 members on Nigeria’s delegation to the 70th United Nations (UN) General Assembly, spoke on Monday with our correspondent in New York.

    The former governor was responding to Wike’s corruption allegations against him.

    He said: “Let him (Wike) prove it in court. Tell him I said he should go to court. I have a wonderful reputation and I challenge Wike; he will not destroy that reputation. I won’t let him destroy it. He doesn’t have that kind of reputation; he will never have that kind of reputation.”

    Amaechi noted that the reason he had no house in Port Harcourt, the state capital, was because he could not afford to build one.

    The former governor said Wike was among those who contributed money for him to buy a piece of land.

    He said: “When I say I don’t have a house in Port Harcourt, Wike would say it’s an irresponsible man that doesn’t have a house in his own village.

    “He won’t ask: ‘Do you have money to build a house?’ I thought he would have attacked me that I have money. I just didn’t build a house. He won’t ask me how much my salary was as (House of Assembly’s) Speaker.”

    To buttress his claim that he could not afford a house, Amaechi said: “Adultery and anger or something else can take me to hell, but not lying.”

    On his reasons for not appearing before the panel of enquiry Wike set up to probe him, Amaechi said: “It is not enough for a panel to indict a man. If Eze Wike wants to fight me, let him go to court. He keeps saying I’m a thief; but let him show me one property. …He knows I know. So, if he has evidence, why hasn’t he put it out to the public? My children are proud of me. They say I’m one of the most honest Nigerians they know.”

    Asked whether or not he was scrutinised by the Department of State Services (DSS) for a possible ministerial position, Amaechi said: “I don’t know if they’ll vet me. I’m not the President.”

    The former governor denied the report that he expressed disappointment at the present administration.

    He said: “Those are fabrications by Wike’s people. They fabricated it as if it’s an interview that I granted or by someone close to me.”

    On the 70th General Assembly, Amaechi said President Muhammadu Buhari had got more support than former President Godluck Jonathan ever did.

    He said: “The level of corruption in that era was so bad that we couldn’t pay salaries. As the governor of Rivers State, my allocation was reduced from N25 billion to about N6 billion. But the Buhari administration is here to save Nigeria.

    “At the General Assembly, we had a lot of respect. We chose who to see and who not to see. Before, no one wanted to see us.”

    He added that despite Nigeria missing a key meeting about Boko Haram and the President almost missing the Pope, “This is one of the best. Although this is my first time as a delegate to the UN, I have gone to other parts of the world with the former president. The way president Buhari is being treated is not the same way President Goodluck was treated. Huge respect for a man of honor and integrity, as against our former president. So you can’t compare, you can’t. I’m leaving here very proud to be a Nigerian,” he added.

     

  • Alleged corruption: Amaechi sues PDP, others for ‘false claims’

    Alleged corruption: Amaechi sues PDP, others for ‘false claims’

    •Seeks N300b general damages

    Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has sued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its State Chairman Chief Felix Obuah and two others – Jerry Needam and Chris Konkwo – for false allegations at an Abuja High Court.

    Amaechi, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), is also demanding N300 billion as general damages done to him and the defamation of his character, reputation and person.

    Needam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers PDP Chairman, is also the publisher of a local newspaper, National Network; Konkwo is the Editor of the newspaper, said to be a propaganda medium for the PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The defendants (PDP, Obuah, Needam and Konkwo) alleged that Amaechi owned foreign bank accounts and embezzled funds belonging to the state government.

    The Rivers PDP, in a statement on August 6 and August 21, alleged that Amaechi stole $757 million (N80 billion) of Rivers State funds stashed in an account in his name at Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United States of America (U.S).

    Rivers PDP also alleged that the former Rivers governor embezzled millions of dollars belonging to Rivers State and stashed it away in other foreign accounts, including a bank in Switzerland.

    The party alleged that Amaechi’s various foreign bank accounts were revealed and blown open by Christiane Amanpour of America’s Cable News Network (CNN).

    The Rivers PDP also claimed that Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, had written to President Muhammadu Buhari that part of the funds was to purchase a home for Amaechi in the U.S, adding that the bank (Bancorp) intended to return the stolen fund to Nigeria.

    [ad id=”403656″]Amaechi’s media office, in an online statement yesterday, said: “In the fresh suit, filed before an Abuja High Court, FCT, Amaechi stated that each of the malicious publications by the defendants is untrue and false, motivated by ill-will and without any foundation in truth whatsoever.

    “The defendants made the libellous publications after the PDP failed the presidential election (of March 28, 2015) and with a view to rubbishing him (Amaechi) in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society and the persons to whom the libellous publications have been made.”

    In his statement of claims in the suit, Amaechi said he did not steal $757 million (N80 billion) from Rivers State and did not stash it away at Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in U.S or Switzerland.

    Amaechi said: “The Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in U.S did not at any time reveal that the plaintiff (Amaechi) embezzled or misappropriated or connived in the embezzlement and misappropriation of money meant for Rivers State people, amounting to $757 million (N80 billion) and stashed it away in his name with Bancorp Bank in Minnesota in U.S.

    “The Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, U.S did not write and did not communicate President Buhari of any $757 million dollars allegedly looted by the plaintiff (Amaechi) that is kept with it and in Switzerland, since no such money was ever looted by the plaintiff.

    “The plaintiff did not steal funds belonging to Rivers State and did not lodge them in any private foreign accounts. The plaintiff did not admit that he lodged and domiciled in his name in an account in Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, U.S any money, as alleged by the defendants.

    “The plaintiff did not lodge $757 million or N80 billion in the bank account belonging to him and none was revealed or blown open by Christiane Amanpour of CNN.”

    The former governor also said since the libellous publications by the PDP, Obuah and two others to the public, he had been inundated, bombarded and confronted by many persons, who expressed lack of respect, loss of faith in him and who no longer regarded him as trustworthy.

    He added that he was being viewed as a common criminal.

    Amaechi said he had been confronted by disrespectful people, arising from the false accusations.

    The former governor denied committing the offences the PDP, Obuah and two others accused him of committing.

    Amaechi said: “By the many publications, the plaintiff has been seriously injured in his credit, character and reputation and has been brought into public scandal, odium, contempt and his person, character and integrity lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society. The publications are false and most disparaging of the person of the plaintiff.

    “The defendants have widely further circulated the malicious publications to the public on the Internet. The wide and general circulations of the malicious publications have exposed the plaintiff to heavy and irredeemable ridicule, public odium, contempt and disparagement in the eyes of right-thinking and reasonable members of the society, including the persons already pleaded and other persons yet unknown and who will also be called upon to testify in the proceedings.

    “The defendants have continued with the republication, recirculation and widespread republishing and distribution of the libellous publications to the public through the Internet, leading to a deluge of enquiries from the public and well-wishers, who have severally confronted the plaintiff with the very wild allegations of the defendants and to which plaintiff denied any looting or ownership of any looted funds or looting of public funds of Rivers State.”

     

  • Group condemns media attacks on Amaechi

    A group, the Niger Delta Initiative for Equity and Justice (NDEJ) has condemned sponsored media attacks against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    It said the reports, which it described as false, were designed to malign him.

    NDEJ said the documentaries being aired by a private television station was designed to cast Amaechi in bad light.

    It said the television station and promoters of the documentaries should have waited for the outcome of investigations by anti-corruption agencies of Amaechi’s tenure.

    NDEJ said the television station was attacking Amaechi in the hope of being granted a Certificate of Occupancy for of a land belonging to Rivers State.

    It alleged that the state also helped the station procure a land opposition its headquarters in Abuja.

    “The documentaries are now being aired to tarnish the image of the former governor as a way to show appreciation to the present Rivers government for these largesse,” NDEJ said.

    The group said the same TV station broadcast malicious documentaries against major All Progressive Congress (APC) chiefs during the general elections.

    According to the group, such media manipulation cannot dent Amaechi’s records, adding that the reports are “frivolous and spurious” and designed to suit the broadcaster’s “wicked purpose”.

     

  • Group condemns media attacks on Amaechi

    Group condemns media attacks on Amaechi

    A group, the Niger Delta Initiative for Equity and Justice (NDEJ), has condemned sponsored media attacks against former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

    It said the reports, which it described as false, were designed to malign the ex-governor.

    NDEJ said the documentaries being aired by a private television station was designed to cast Amaechi in bad light.

    It said the television station and promoters of the documentaries should have waited for the outcome of investigations on Amaechi’s tenure.

    NDEJ said the television station was attacking Amaechi in the hope of being granted a Certificate of Occupancy for a land belonging to Rivers State.

    It alleged that the state also helped the station procure a land in Abuja.

    “The documentaries are now being aired to tarnish the image of the former governor as a way to show appreciation to the present Rivers government for this largesse,” NDEJ said.

    The group said the same TV station broadcast malicious documentaries against major All Progressive Congress (APC) chiefs during the general election.

    According to the group, such media manipulation cannot dent Amaechi’s records, adding that the reports are “frivolous and spurious” and designed to suit the broadcaster’s “wicked purpose.”

  • Wike, Rivers APC disagree on Amaechi, projects

    •APC: governor wasted over N120b
    •’I’m prudent’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike yesterday said he was running a prudent administration and managing the state’s resources well.

    The governor spoke when he conducted reporters round some projects his administration was executing in parts of the state.

    Wike, a former chief of staff in the Government House, Port Harcourt, and the director-general of Rotimi Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, said his administration decided to first complete the projects started by his predecessor for the benefit of Rivers State residents to prevent abandonment.

    The governor assured that he would also start new projects.

    But the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the governor spread falsehood and propaganda in his 100 days in office.

    The party accused the governor of wasting over N120 billion since assuming office.

    A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, insisted that Wike betrayed his benefactor and former boss, former Governor Amaechi.

     

     

  • APC: Rivers PDP can’t kill Amaechi’s political career

    APC: Rivers PDP can’t kill Amaechi’s political career

    The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the alleged sponsored probe of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the People Democratic Party (PDP) is a waste of time.

    The state’s APC Deputy Chairman Prince Peter Odike told reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, that the plan by Governor Nyesom Wike-led PDP government was to shut Amaechi out of political space.

    The plan, Odike said, would fail.

    The deputy chairman said the commission of enquiry Wike set up and the petition to Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) against Amaechi were among PDP’s plan to deny Amaechi an appointment in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    He recalled that Amaechi, the former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for solid eight years, resisted the pressure by some elements, with the alleged backing of former President Goodlouck Jonathan, to control the state’s resource.

    Odike said: “I am here calling on the elders, young men and women of Rivers State and indeed the people of Niger Delta to rise in union and to tell these few actors, represented by the current occupants of the Brick House, especially the PDP in the state, that the sound of their drums is of war.

    “They want to shut Amaechi out of the political space but they can’t because their plans are evil. Their actions are becoming inimical to the progress of Rivers State. They are not happy that Amaechi fought the political battle of his life to ensure Buhari’s victory at the poll.

    “We, therefore, enjoin the good people of Rivers State to discountenance this ill-motivated selfish and devilish campaign of calumny against the great son of Niger Delta. Rivers people should refuse to be part of any gang–up geared towards destroying what Amaechi has built in the state.”

  • PDP can’t shut Amaechi out of political space – APC

    PDP can’t shut Amaechi out of political space – APC

    The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) Friday declared that the witch-hunting and sponsored probe against the former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state is a waste of time.

    The state Deputy Chairman of APC, Prince Peter Odike while addressing the press Friday at the APC state Secretariat in Port Harcourt, said the plan for Wike led PDP in the state is to shut Amaechi out of political space which he said is impossible.

    Odike said the commission of inquiry set up by Wike and the petition to Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) against Amaechi were all ground plan orchestrated  by the PDP and their cohorts to deny Amaechi appointment from President Buhari’s administration.

    The party recalled that, Amaechi, the former chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum for solid eight years resisted the pressure mounted by some unpatriotic elements backed by the former President Goodluck Jonathan to control the resource of the state.

    He alleged that PDP plan to politically pull down Amaechi was intensified in the month of August when they realised that President Buhari is expected to name members of Federal Executive Council and other strategic appointments.

    “I am calling on the elders, young men and women of Rivers State and indeed  the Niger Delta Region to rise in union and to tell these few actors represented by the current occupants of the Brick House especially PDP in the state that the sound of their drums is of war.

    “They want to shut out Amaechi out of political space but they can’t because their plans are evil. Their actions are becoming inimical to the progress in Rivers State. They are not happy that Amaechi fought the political battle of his life to ensure Buhari’s victory at the poll.

    “We therefore enjoin the good people of Rivers State to discountenance this ill-motivated selfish and devilish campaign of calumny against the great son of Niger Delta. Rivers people should refuse to be part of any gang –up geared toward destroying what Amaechi has built in the state.”