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Tag: Amaechi

  • Amaechi to Jang, Mimiko: you lied about NGF poll

    Amaechi to Jang, Mimiko: you lied about NGF poll

    Fayemi: no hidden camera

    Protest at National Assembly

     

    THOSE advising Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman Rotimi Amaechi to step down for peace to return to the group got some bad news yesterday.

    The Rivers State governor vowed not to step down from the chairmanship, which he retained in last month’s rancorous election.

    A factional NGF, led by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, has emerged, raising tension and drawing blistering criticisms from the public. In some circles, it is thought that there will be peace, should Amaechi step down.

    But, Amaechi, who was at the NGF Secretariat, Abuja to reassure the management and staff that the crisis would not affect their work and salaries, told reporters that he would stick to the mandate that was freely given to him by his colleagues.

    Besides, he said Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his Plateau counterpart, Jonah Jang lied about the election.

    The Jang faction has opened a secretariat, but Amaechi stressed that there could never be two secretariats. He urged the Jang faction to return to the fold in the interest of development of the country and the masses.

    Asked whether he would step down, the governor said: “No, No, No. That is a mandate that was freely given and I will stick to that mandate.”

    “The election has come and gone, like I said after the election… It was a test for democracy and democracy won at the end of the day. All we can do as democrats that were elected by the people is to uphold democracy and stand by democracy.”

    Amaechi went on:”I honestly do not know why the disagreement. I don’t know why. I believe that my brothers and colleagues will see reason why we should stop distracting the country and get the country united to focus on development because at the end of the day it is about legacy; it is about what we will leave behind for the people.”

    Noting that Nigeria should be able to manage its democracy and election, he warned that care should be taken to ensure that what is happening now does not affect the stand of Nigerians towards the 2015 general election.

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said that he did not vote during the election, but Amaechi said: “Again, tell my brother Mimiko that he voted. If he still says he did not vote, I am willing to go with him to his church, Redeemed Church. We’ll kneel down at the altar and say it before God.”

    He went on: “I want to urge Jang -because he said he is a Christian -to know that God watches over everybody and whatever you say, say it according to God because beyond NGF you and I know that there is heaven and you can’t go to heaven if you don’t tell the truth and stand by the truth. I am not saying he is not saying the truth; I am not saying he is not standing by the truth; I am just saying that nobody can go to heaven when he is not saying the truth.”

    Appealing to the Jang faction, he said: “There is no special benefit that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman is getting. I don’t see why there is this disagreement. When I read them saying I am desperate; desperate for what? I am only proving a point that Nigerians are allowed to run for any post they want to run. And when they do and they are elected, they should stick to their mandates. That is the only point.

    “My brothers who are complaining, not about the election … should come back and let’s work together. They must be willing just as we are willing to accept. It is not really a battle; it is about God. I usually tell people, ‘don’t win the battle and lose the war’.”

    “I think all of us should come together and work for the interest of the nation and for the interest of the poor masses. We should not allow our personal interest to override that of the nation. It is important we consider the interest of the nation,” Amaechi said.

    He also pointed out to the governors in the other faction that Nigeria Governors’ Forum is not about one particular party or the other, but for the interest of all.

    According to him, he only needs support from four quarters – God, Nigerians, Governors and the President.

    “When we say President, it is because he is the President of the country and all of us must be loyal to him, but my employers are the governors. If they wake up tomorrow and say ‘chairman you have to go’, then I will go. But they must wake up and say so. Not somebody saying it on their behalf.”

    On the NGF constitution, Amaechi said there was no controversy between the two sides on the articles contained in the constitution before the election was conducted.

    “Now that we have emerged, they are now saying that the constitution is not correct. They were quoting that same constitution to subvert the election we would have held earlier. As much as possible, the strategy on our side is not to be confrontational.”

    “I think we should work together for the interest of the country. Poverty is everywhere. Poverty in 1970 was 30% or 31% but what is it now? It rose to as much as 70% in the last one year.”

    To the NGF secretariat staff, he said: “It was a meeting of 36 governors and then I think that whatever the issues are will be resolved. I think that we should focus more on those issues that unite us, those issues like fight against poverty, fight against polio and malaria. These are things that are killing the poor.

    “We are busy here at Abuja and different state headquarters talking about NGF election, when indeed Nigerians are dying of poverty and hunger.

    “I think that as a secretariat you should focus on those issues. Forget the internal dynamics of the politics of NGF. We are colleagues. When we talk among ourselves, you will understand that there are underlining factors that are making them to behave the way they are behaving that you cannot take away. It is usually things that happen sometimes; it is beyond the control of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, but either way be rest assured of you salaries.”

    Also speaking at the meeting yesterday, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said: “As far as we are concerned, it is a period of sober reflection and healings. There are moves on all sides to ensure NGF stands on the side of truth. The NGF is not about the election that just held; it is about governance and development in our states.”

    “Some of you are already confused about which NGF you work for; there is only one NGF. Governors will come and go, but NGF will remain.”

    Apologising on behalf of the 36 governors for the NGF crisis, Fayemi said the allegation that a camera was hidden to record the election’s proceedings was incorrect. The recording, he said was done in the open by a governor.

    He also maintained that there would be legal issues if anybody is found impersonating the NGF websites and other illegal actions.

  • Amaechi sues House, Speaker over impeachment plot

    Amaechi sues House, Speaker over impeachment plot

    RIVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday moved to stop the alleged plot by the State House of Assembly to impeach him.

    He filed a suit at a State High Court against the House and its 32 members, seeking judicial protection against the purported plan to remove by illegal and unconstitutional means from office.

    In the suit filed yesterday before Justice George Omereji in Port Harcourt, Amaechi prayed the court to halt any moves by the lawmakers to impeach him illegally or unconstitutionally.

    The suit is entitled “Between the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and the RSHA, the Speaker RSHA, Otelemaba Dan-Amachree and 31 members of the state Legislative Assembly.”

  • NGF: I won’t step down – Amaechi

    NGF: I won’t step down – Amaechi

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday declared that he would not step down from the chairmanship position he retained during the Forum’s election last months.

    Following the controversies and the new faction that emerged after his victory at the poll, there had been calls in some quarters for Amaechi to step down for the sake of peace.

    But Amaechi, who was at the NGF Secretariat, Abuja to reassure management and staff that the ongoing crisis in the Forum would not affect their work and salaries, told journalists that he would stick to the mandate that was freely given to him by his colleagues.

    Stressing that there can never be two secretariats of NGF, he called on the Jang-led faction to bury the hatchet and come back to the fold for the interest of the country’s development and the Nigerians masses.

    On whether he will step down, he said: “No, No, No. That is a mandate that was freely given and I would stick to that mandate.”

    “The election has come and gone, like I said after the election… It was a test for democracy and democracy won at the end of the day. All we can do as democrats that were elected by the people is to uphold democracy and stand by democracy.”

    “I honestly do not know why the disagreement, I don’t know why. I believe that my brothers and colleagues would see reason why we should stop distracting the country and get the country united to focus on development because at the end of the day it is about legacy. It is about what we would leave behind for the people,” he added.

     

  • Amaechi fetes physically challenged

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said his administration will build a special school for the physically challenged.

    The Amaechi administration, according to the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Nemi, would build the special school to give the physically challenged hope and provide special opportunity for them to learn.

    At the end of inspection of the land for the school, which lies between Kpondo and Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Nemi and her Social Welfare and Rehabilitation counterpart, Joe Poroma, spoke on the effort by the Amaechi administration to fulfill its dream of building a special school for the physically challenged.

    Mrs. Nemi said: “Let me thank Governor Rotimi Amaechi for giving hope to the physically challenged.

    “I am glad that my colleague and I are here today. Amaechi’s vision for the physically challenged in the state is now a reality.”

    Poroma said: “It’s a great day in the lives of those that are physically challenged in our state. It has always been the dream of this administration to come up with a dream home, as you may as well call it school for those that are physically challenged in the state.

    “Today is a new beginning; we’ve come here to inspect the land and I promise everybody in this state that by the time this administration comes to an end there’s going to be a befitting school for those that are physically challenged.”

  • Plot to deregister Amaechi’s Governors’ Forum uncovered

    Plot to deregister Amaechi’s Governors’ Forum uncovered

    A plot to kill the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has been uncovered.

    If it succeeds, the action will pave the way for the recognition of Governor Jonah Jang as chairman.

    It was gathered that some forces in the Presidency, in connivance with some governors, are trying to prevail on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to de-register the NGF.

    The plan is to, after the de-registration, declare the NGF being led by Amaechi as illegal.

    The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on March 2, 2009 registered the NGF with a 12-man group of trustees, including Vice-President Namadi Sambo, then Kaduna State governor.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some forces in the Presidency had been disturbed following the failure of the Jang faction to secure the backing of the majority of the NGF members last Thursday.

    The Jang faction had only 16 of the 36 governors behind it at the inauguration of its secretariat last Thursday in Abuja.

    The “shocking development” made anti-Amaechi forces in the Presidency to go back to the drawing board on how to force most of the governors to abandon Amaechi.

    One of the options being weighed is to deregister the NGF being led by Amaechi.

    To set the ground for the de-registration, one of the aggrieved governors had on Saturday claimed that the NGF Constitution with which the Forum was registered with the CAC was unknown to members.

    A source said: “The anti-Amaechi forces in the presidency have decided to make the NGF battle a do-or-die affair. They believe it is humiliating for 16 out of 36 governors to be following Jang about after the NGF poll.

    “They have just concluded a plot to deregister the authentic NGF being led by Amaechi in CAC. Their permutation is that once it is an illegal body, the governors will be forced to associate with Jang’s faction.”

    Some of the reasons which the anti-Amaechi camp will give for the de-listing include alleged use of forged constitution to register the Forum and non-filing of appropriate annual reports to the CAC on the activities of the Forum – in line with Article 19(1) of the Forum’s constitution.

    “Article 19(1) says: “The income and property of NGF whosoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of organisation as set forth in this Rules and Regulations/ Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus, or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the organisation.”

    In the North, a plot to remove the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, as the chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum is said to have been hatched. The forum’s meeting is billed for Thursday in Kaduna.

    The anti-Amaechi forces are pushing for Aliyu’s removal by latching on the fact that he had completed his two terms in office as the chairman of the Forum since 2009.

    Besides, a former minister is said to have been recruited into a plot to hijack the party machinery from the governor and impeach him.

    It was learnt that the governor ran into trouble for not only backing Amaechi but for disclosing that President Goodluck Jonathan entered into a one-term pact with PDP governors in 2011 before he got the party’s mandate.

    Aliyu has consistently maintained that it is the turn of the North to produce the president in 2015.

    The source said: “They want to force Babangida Aliyu to step down as the chairman of the NSGF. They have just realised that he has overstayed in office.

    “Actually, Babangida was elected as the chairman of NSGF in 2007 and asked to stay in office again in 2009. By the time a fresh election ought to hold, the politics of the illness of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua had set in. Northern governors unanimously mandated Aliyu to continue to hold the forte because of the political tension in the country occasioned by Yar’Adua’s illness.

    “Now the forces in the Presidency, in connivance with three governors and a former minister, are plotting against the governor. Although Babangida Aliyu tried to make up with President Goodluck Jonathan during the flag-off of Zungeru Hydro-power project last week, the forces are not ready to forgive him.”

    Presidency has said President Goodluck Jonathan has no hand in the NGF crisis.

    There is intense lobbying of members of the Niger State House of Assembly to impeach Aliyu, a source said.

    Members are being promised money to join the plot.

    “There is also a plan to precipitate a crisis of epic proportions, with the aim of destabilising the state and seizing control of the party structure from Aliyu.

    The ex-minister is alleged to be working in collusion with top politicians from Zone A, consisting of the Nupe, who are in the majority. The promise of governorship returning to the zone is the carrot that the former minister is dangling before politicians in the zone.

    The source said: “Niger State has a zoning arrangement which takes the Governorship slot to Zone C (Kontagora zone) after Zone B (Minna Zone), where Governor Babangida Aliyu hails from, would have served out his two terms in 2015.

    “The ex-Minister met with key stakeholders from Zone A in Bida on Saturday 11th May, 2013 after he attended the reception organised in honour of the Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Hon Saidu Ndako Idris Kpaki in Kpaki Village.

  • Amaechi’s impeachment moves

    Amaechi’s impeachment moves

    Jonathan has himself to blame for over-heating the polity

    ON May 29, ironically the National Democracy Day, the newspapers were awash with anti-democratic news: a Presidency lobby, led by a South-South governor, allegedly armed with a war chest of N7 billion, was prowling around the 27 pro- Amaechi law makers in the 32-member Rivers State House of Assembly, to corruptly lure some of them to join an alleged impeachment conspiracy against Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

    Normally, such an allegation should have been flatly dismissed as a hare-brained piece of gossip. More telling for democratic institutions, it should have been dismissed on account that the Presidency of the Federal Republic was too refined, too cultivated and too elevated for such a scheme. Still on institution building, such alleged illicit attack on the office of Governor, no matter the perceived rascality of its temporary occupier, should not even be contemplated, given the imperative of strengthening federal institutions, in Nigeria’s shambolic federal system.

    Besides, the reports alleged that the target was seven legislators. This, other things being equal, would amount to N1 billion per induced legislator, if indeed the allegations were true. But seven added to five only amounts to 12, 10 short of 22, the two-thirds majority needed to unseat a governor in a House of 32. But the Jonathan lobby has proved itself capable of such desperation, since the president’s war against the governor started.

    For a rumoured bid for Vice-President in 2015, Godsday Orubebe, Niger Delta affairs minister, opened the fray, lampooning Governor Amaechi for using the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) chair to ridicule President Jonathan, a god Orubebe’s tone suggested everyone must worship, even if he is only a federal republican president, who is under checks and balances.

    Thereafter, the federal authorities grounded the governor’s aircraft, literally mid-air. As it turned out, the House of Representatives probe on the matter, by its justice committee (chaired by Ali Ahmad) and aviation committee (chaired by Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha), found the Minister of Aviation to have suborned the relevant aviation agencies to pursue a witch-hunt against the governor. The probe committee therefore recommended the governor’s aircraft should be de-grounded.

    As the air power show went on, there were threats of withdrawing security details from Governor Amaechi, the Rivers State Speaker and the rest of the legislature as well as from other ranking members of the state government entitled to state protection. Eventually, good sense prevailed when AIG for Zone 6, Jonathan Johnson, dismissed such talks and openly apologised to the governor, even if Mbu Joseph Mbu, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, had shown reckless partiality in the matter. So, when Governor Amaechi alleged that his life could be at risk, he sounded easily believable.

    Then after the NGF election was lost and won on May 24, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) slammed an instant suspension on Governor Amaechi. Though it claimed the action had no bearing to the NGF win and loss, it showed its bad faith by saying it suspended Amaechi for refusing a “lawful order” to undo what was a clear function of the Rivers State legislature – the reinstatement of the Obio-Akpor Local Government elected executive, which the legislature earlier suspended to investigate alleged sleaze.

    It is on account of this perennial bad faith that any fair mind must address the latest allegation of illicit impeachment. For attempting to go for broke – law and justice be damned! – just to crush an opponent, Jonathan destroys nobody but himself. To start with, a president that sides with illegality just to gain a temporary advantage, turns nobody but himself into a mere joke.

    Again, by warring against Amaechi so recklessly, the president tragically undermines Nigeria’s federalism. The governorship is no presidential poodle. Both are creations of the law. By the same unthinking aggression, the president further smashes up his party in a grand delusion of smashing the governor. For a president who seems desperate to run again in 2015, it is a classic case of cutting your nose to spite your face.

    President Jonathan must know this: he might boast huge powers. But the conceit of thinking his word is law is not one of them. He is restrained by law as any other citizen. So, thinking he could bring the house down, just because a citizen is pressing a right he does not especially fancy, would only push the president into the doldrums.

  • Name defecting Amaechi supporters, Rivers House of Assembly leader challenges Wike group

    Name defecting Amaechi supporters, Rivers House of Assembly leader challenges Wike group

    The leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, a lawyer, has challenged the five lawmakers loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to publish the names of eight Rivers lawmakers accused of abandoning Governor Rotimi Amaechi to join their camp.

    Lloyd, who represents Emohua Constituency, yesterday in Port Harcourt declared that the Wike group wanted to blackmail the pro-Amaechi lawmakers, in order to secure the majority to impeach the authentic chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    He stated that no amount of blackmail or intimidation would make the 27 lawmakers, including the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, to abandon the Rivers State governor.

    The House leader also urged Rivers people to remain calm and law-abiding in the face of provocation and harassment, thereby giving peace a chance.

    It was insinuated on Wednesday that eight of the 27-pro-Amaechi legislators, in the 32-member Assembly had been induced by the Wike camp, making them to allegedly betray Amaechi.

    The pro-Wike lawmakers include: Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III).

    Lloyd had earlier urged members of the public not to mind the rumour mongers, who said eight of them had joined the “rebels.”

    Lloyd said: “We are solidly behind His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi..”

  • Court halts PDP’s further action against Amaechi

    Court halts PDP’s further action against Amaechi

    A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt,yesterday restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from taking further action against Governor Chibuike Amaechi, following his suspension on Monday by the party.

    Amaechi was slammed with suspension by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP for alleged insubordination.

    He was specifically accused of spurning the party’s directive to reverse the suspension of the chairman and councillors of Obio/Akpor Local Government.

    A committee, headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr.Joe Gadzama,was set up to probe the allegations against the governor.

    Amaechi immediately approached the court to seek redress.

    Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji ordered the PDP to stop further action against Amaechi and maintain the status quo ante pending the determination of the case.

    The court also directed the governor to serve the PDP the court order through publications in three national dailies. The case was adjourned to June 6 for further hearing.

    In announcing Amaechi’s suspension, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said the action followed a petition submitted by the party’s executive committee in Rivers against the governor.

    The local PDP blamed Amaechi for the suspension of the chairman and councillors of Obio-Akpor Local Government. Amaechi, responding to his suspension, described it as political witchhunt and ridiculous.

    He said contrary to claims by the party,it was the state House of Assembly that suspended Mr. Timothy Nsirim (chairman) and 17 councillors of the local government.

    He said he was not given a fair hearing before he was placed on suspension.

    “No fair hearing. I was not invited. What was the reason for suspending me. They claim I have refused to reinstate the Obio-Akpor council. Who suspended the Obio-Akpor council? Who has power to reinstate the Obio Akpor council. So you see political witchhunt. It is so ridiculous. My party must rise above political witchhunt. The governor did not suspend the Obio-Akpor council. I hope you know. I have powers. My power is to dissolve. I can get up now and dissolve the Obio Akpor council and remit it to the House of Assembly. I have never done that yet,” he said.

    The NWC, at its emergency meeting, considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee against Gov. Amaechi of Rivers.

    “This followed his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    “The NWC, after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends Governor Amaechi as a member of the PDP,’’ the communiqué said.

    It added that the governor’s action violated Articles 58 1 (b), (c), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution.

  • 27 lawmakers vow to stand by Amaechi

    27 lawmakers vow to stand by Amaechi

    The plot to impeach Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi seems doomed, with 27 of the 32 lawmakers, including Speaker Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, backing the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    The lawmakers, in a statement tittled “Resolution-Our stand, yesterday said: “We have observed with consternation dangerous rumors making the rounds, even appearing on the pages of National Dailies that we, the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been financially induced to impeach His Excellency,Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, C.O.N, Governor of Rivers State, and Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, we make bold to categorically state as follows:

    •that we have not and will not receive any pecuniary gratification or marginal oil fields

    •that we are united in our resolve to commit our unalloyed loyalty to His Excellency , Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi , Governor and the people of Rivers State.

    •that we the undersigned do not contemplate the impeachment of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi as an option.

    •we reiterate our loyalty to the President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Leader of our Great Party the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

    Amachree, yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, expressed shock about the rumour that eight of the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers had joined the five legislators loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to impeach the governor.

    The leader of the Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, a lawyer, also in Port Harcourt, after laughing on the phone for about three minutes, urged the public not to mind the rumour mongers, who said eight of them had joined the “rebels”.

    Lloyd, who represents Emohua Constituency, said: “We are solidly behind His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. As I speak with you (4:07 pm), all the 27 of us are in a place in Port Harcourt, celebrating Democracy Day. I can allow you to speak with each of my colleagues. They then chorused: “Hurray”.

    “The enemies of progress should stop lying against us. We will not succumb to pressure to abandon Governor Amaechi. All the 27 lawmakers will not support the plot to impeach the performing and focused governor of Rivers State.”

    The Speaker of the Rivers Assembly also wondered why the “Abuja forces” could be so desperate and bent on impeaching the governor.

    Amachree said: “There are strong rumours that some of the 27 lawmakers, who were suspended from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on April 29 by the Felix Obuah-led Rivers State chapter of the party have jumped ship, because of political and financial carrots, allegedly dangled before them.

    “I also heard the rumours and read the report in a national newspaper (not The Nation). I personally checked on the 26 other lawmakers and they all restated their loyalty to the Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

    “I am not aware, if at all, that any of the 26 other lawmakers has been compromised. I am confident that my colleagues will never be part of any plot to impeach Governor Amaechi.

    “I am warning against assumptions and reports that intend to impinge on the integrity of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”

    The speaker also called on “well-meaning people” of the state to continue to pray for the speedy return of peace and normalcy to the state and the PDP, a party he said they had been building since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999.

    The pro-Wike lawmakers are: Michael Chinda (Obio/Akpor II Constituency), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) and Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III).

    The re-election of Amaechi as the NGF chairman in Abuja on Friday angered President Goodluck Jonathan and others fighting the Rivers governor, who felt humiliated, with the National Working Committee of the PDP, at an emergency meeting on Monday, suspending Amaechi for alleged anti-party activities, based on a petition from the Rivers chapter of the ruling party.

    The NWC of PDP stated that the NGF chairman refused to reinstate the suspended Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim; his deputy, Solomon Eke; and the 17 councillors, who were suspended on April 22 by the members of the Assembly.

    Amaechi, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, told youths that his life was in danger. He also stated at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on Tuesday that he was not scared of impeachment.

    The declaration in 2012 by Amaechi, an Ikwerre from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area, that it would not be fair for any Ikwerre person to aspire to succeed him in 2015, stirred the hornet’s nest, as the statement did not go down well with Wike, also an Ikwerre, from Rumuepirikom community, who intends to run for governor in the next election.

    Five of the 32 members of the House loyal to Wike voted against the April 22 suspension of the chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, his deputy and all the 17 councillors. The minister of state for education is from the Local Government and was a two-time chairman of the council.

  • Deputy resists pressure to dump Amaechi

    Deputy resists pressure to dump Amaechi

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi is heading for a Federal High Court today to challenge his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by its National Working Committee(NWC).

    The governor has assembled a legal team, “most of who have voluntarily offered to defend democracy and the rule of law”.

    But, his opponents are not taking it easy, going by a plot to cause disaffection in Amaechi’s camp. Some forces in the Presidency are mounting pressure on his deputy, Tele Ikuru, an engineer, to abandon his boss.

    The forces have promised to make Ikuru the governor, if he can cooperate with them to impeach Amaechi.

    But Ikuru is standing firm, “because he prefers loyalty than being a traitor”.

    Amaechi was suspended on Monday as a member of the PDP by the NWC without any notice of infraction. He has rejected the action, saying he got no fair hearing.

    There have been attempts to provoke Amaechi’s camp into violence in Rivers State, but the governor has decided to pursue his case through legal process, it was learnt.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Amaechi has advised all his supporters and aides not to engage in any form of violence, no matter the provocation.

    “When some thugs imported from neighbouring states and ex-militants almost overran the Government House in Port Harcourt about two weeks ago, the governor told security men not to fire a shot.

    “To avoid mayhem, the governor left the Government House”

    Amaechi is expected to file papers before a Federal High Court today.

    “Amaechi’s position is that democracy can only thrive where the rule of law is allowed to take its normal course. He has gone through the wheel of justice in the past and he won,” another source said.

    Ikuru, who is under pressure to dump Amaechi was the deputy governor to ex-Governor Celestine Omehia in 2007 before the election was nullified by the court.

    Ikuru survived the crisis and paired up with Amaechi in 2011 for a fresh mandate.

    He is being asked to return to his pre-2007 political camp “to deal with” his boss.

    Another source said: “They are dangling the carrots of being a governor in a life time to Ikuru as part of the plot to impeach Amaechi.

    “These anti-Amaechi forces believe that since Ikuru is also a force to reckon with in Rivers State politics, it will be an easy ride to impeach the governor if the deputy gives his consent.

    “They are also talking of a realignment of forces which would enable Ikuru to run for one term as a governor from 2015 to 2019.

    “Ikuru has however decided to stand by his boss. He has not made any commitment to the anti-Amaechi forces.

    “I can tell you that so far, this is the plot. They are talking to lawmakers, they also want to lobby the deputy governor to abandon his boss.”

    As at press time, moves by anti-Amaechi forces to retrieve the ballots of the last Friday Nigeria Governors’ Forum election have failed.

    They have been searching for the ballot papers for forensic analysis of those who voted for Amaechi and the Governor of Plateau State, Chief David Jang.

    A source in the anti-Amaechi camp said: “No one is ready to release the ballot papers. But, they have forgotten that a court can compel the NGF secretariat to make the ballot papers available for examination.

    “We may end up going to court to challenge the election and demand for the examination of the ballot papers. Do not