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Tag: Amaechi

  • Amaechi’s God-given victory

    Amaechi’s God-given victory

    RIVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi must celebrate his re-election victory as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) with humility and gratitude to God. This is because he who God has blessed, no President can curse. No force can change what God has decreed. In the midst of tension, the one God has ordained as most appropriate in the prevailing circumstance has won.

    Amaechi’s victory is in actuality against all odds. The presidency working through Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio strained 19 governors to sign an open endorsement before the elections; but as God will have it, the governors voted with their conscience and returned Amaechi to office. Akpabio is now showing the world the pre-signed document where Governor Jonah Jang’s name was written as winner ahead of the election.

    Amaechi’s political triumph has been a wonder of light, freedom and democracy above forces of darkness, despotism and dictatorship. Right from the episode of his aspiration to become state governor, he had been confronted with serial injustices, humiliations and embarrassments – just as it was in his desire for a second term as NGF Chairman. But in all, it has become perceptible that God has been favouring him. The irresolvable contention between Governors Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda was not an error but occurred in order to pave way for him. On the other side, Plateau State Governor Jang who emerged at the dying moment when the two were forced to step down rightly lost to gain the position which he was not prepared for.

    Yet, even as Amaechi has won the polls, the war is not over. The battle line for 2015 is being drawn and the hand writing is becoming clearer for people that have been blinded by sentiment and power. This is a test case on how 2015 will look like when forces of darkness will no longer comprehend the light of day. The governors, including those who voted against the winner might as well begin to see the non-viability of their contentious forum.

    In reality, the NGF brouhaha is not profiting Nigeria anything. It is sad that PDP government has continuously wasted much of the nation’s time and resources in politicking than in growth and development. The forum, with Akpabio’s haughty carriage and other governors playing the devil’s advocate for the president has polluted political atmosphere across the land with detraction to securing power and position becoming the priority.

    For Amaechi and the opposition, as 2015 approaches, more battles might be brewing which is bound to be dirtier. If Niger-Delta (ex-) militants and their leaders could be mobilized to protest publicly against Amaechi, requesting that he should step down as governor, the future of the nation, even if Boko Haram is extracted, is becoming unguaranteed.

    Just like the opposition is trailing, Amaechi might need to use this opportunity to accomplish the vision for his mission. If not, the desperate presidency with its massive manhunt tools will incessantly work to pull him down the same way the nation is being dragged down. The target would be to deprive him and his people of enjoying the rest of his political life just like the masses today are hardly benefitting from the reward of democracy under the ruling party.

    The merry-go-round Akpabio and his pro-Jonathan colleagues should realize that Nigerians are becoming wiser politically. Not many would because of ethnicity or regionalism still want to align with failure in 2015, even with the desperation to hold on to power. Just like some PDP governors denied the pro-Jonathan NGF candidate of their voting rights, many Nigerians in the South would not just vote for a failing southerner if there is a trustworthy achieving northerner in the competition. More and more, Nigerians are yearning benefiting from the good of the land above wasting their voting values on the basis of ethnicity.

    This was why the progressive governors might have read the minds of the people by securing victory for Amaechi. The outcome is an indication that there is still light at the end of the nation’s dark tunnel.

    The likes of Akpabio displayed how he has been governing the people of his state by false pretences. A leader who would always prefer to satisfy an individual in transitory power instead of commitment to selfless service to the people might not receive anticipated personal recompense at the end of the pursuit.

    So thrilled that he was empowered as Chairman of a desperately-created PDP Governors Forum to tackle Amaechi, Akpabio has manifested himself as a typical wolf in sheep’s clothing. He hardly knew how not to throw stone as a resident in a glass house. After his group failed to satisfy the master’s personal political desire, he attempted to turn issues upside down by declaring the election which he engineered as invalid. He said Amaechi ought to have stepped down before the conduct of the election, adding that there was no way an incumbent could be in office while an election was being conducted. It was as if he has forgotten that in Nigeria, like he experienced when seeking for his second term as governor, incumbents do not leave office before elections.

    If also he is still standing on his contention of rigging, emanating from the voting and verification of only 35 governors in attendance, then democracy still has a long way to go in Nigeria. The list he had prepared ahead of the election can never stand as authentic voting pattern. He might have counted the vote before it was casted. Whereas, he ought to know that some of those who signed on the list never did it on their minds but just to please him and his boss. Election is a game of numbers. All manners of manipulations used to be done during general elections, and might be thought as the way out in 2015 might not work again.

    If Amaechi who was eventually voted for by most of the governors had had been declared the loser, Nigerians would have been greatly thwarted. Akpabio needs to be taught that God will always do what He wants to do, no matter what, because power belongs to Him and He gives it to whom He wants. Evidently, Akpabio needs some education to know why he could not even deliver despite all the threats and arm- twisting. Let him understand why he and his team gambled and failed.

    Indeed, the reality of the NGF election is that it is a technical knockout for anti-Amaechi politicians. After several months of intrigues and politicking, the president failed to convince his initial candidate to step down for a newly-chosen one, and could not also convince his party governors to vote for his even tually chosen candidate. This inconsistency means that he has been weakened politically by the result of the election. He picked the wrong battle and was not ultimately honoured.

    It is distasteful that Mr. President, the number one citizen could not gather enough support within his own political party to defeat his perceived opponent. He should now be much more bothered how votes from South East and South-South will return him to Aso Villa in 2015. The fact is that nothing seems to be working in this regime. South-South is only supporting him because he is their son; not much practical benefit with impact on the life of the people.

    We must imbibe the lesson that the political future of Nigeria is greater than that of any individual. Nobody can become the authentic president of Nigeria without the support of majority of Nigerians. Most Nigerians has been crying in all corners that President Goodluck Jonathan is not performing pleasingly. It does not matter his address to the nation this week granting self acclamation for achievbements, what will impress the people is the level of positive impact of his practical performance on their lives.

    The wisdom might be for him to put sentiments and desperation aside so that he can move Nigeria forward. The nation that once had the potentiality of greatness has been stagnant for too long.

  • NGF crisis: Jang group plots Amaechi’s expulsion from PDP

    NGF crisis: Jang group plots Amaechi’s expulsion from PDP

    • Pro-Amaechi governors launch counter-plot to sack Akpabio

    • Aggrieved governors meet VP, Anenih

    The battle for the soul of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) got messier yesterday with the anti-Amaechi forces pushing for the expulsion of the Rivers State Governor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Amaechi was re-elected for a second term on Friday at an election in Abuja, polling 19 votes to the 16 for Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State.

    His election was immediately disputed by a group of governors comprising Jang, Godswill Akpabio and 16 others who proclaimed Jang as the authentic chairman of the NGF.

    The group had its ‘maiden’ meeting in Abuja and resolved to create its own secretariat.

    A delegation took their case to Vice President Namadi Sambo in the absence of President Goodluck Jonathan who is in Ethiopia, and the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Antony Anenih.

    Amaechi is currently not in the good books of the President, his main offence being his alleged political ambition in 2015 which is perceived to be in conflict with that of the president.

    He is being tipped as running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.

    Both Lamido and Amaechi have denied the allegation.

    However, a counter plot by the pro-Amaechi governors in the PDP is also in the works. They are rooting for proper election of the Chairman of the recently formed PDP Governors Forum.

    It was set up by the party’s leadership as part of the strategy to curb alleged excesses of Amaechi who, in their opinion, was using the NGF against the interest of the President.

    Gov Akpabio, a pro-Jonathan governor, was selected to lead the group and he is now the arrow head of the Jang group.

    Moments after their meeting at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Governors Akpabio, Jang and Garba Umar (Acting governor of Taraba) drove to Anenih’s residence. Time was 2.30 pm. The meeting lasted one hour.

    From there they proceeded to the Presidential Villa to see the Vice President.

    Details of that meeting were not immediately available.

    All the 19 governors who voted for the re-election of Amaechi as the NGF chairman are not relaxing either.

    They plan to come out and openly identify with his leadership, sources said yesterday.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the anti-Amaechi governors met three times between Friday night and 2pm yesterday on how to curtail Amaechi.

    It was gathered that one of the issues on the agenda was the need to expel Amaechi from the party. They said they strongly suspected that Amaechi has been working in collaboration with the opposition to “ridicule the presidency and the PDP.”

    They also decided not to accept the result of the Friday election by going ahead with a parallel NGF headed by Jang and strengthening the PDP Governors Forum.

    A source said: “The anti-Amaechi forces are still shocked by how the Rivers State Governor won the re-election. They also blamed some of the governors for walking away quietly from the election venue without creating a scene by rejecting the poll result on the spot.

    “Initially, some of the aggrieved governors thought of going to court to stop Amaechi from being recognised as the NGF chairman but they feared that they might not be able to secure an ex-parte injunction. They said a political option is a quick-win one.”The grand plot now is to prevail on the PDP leadership to expel Amaechi from the party because the ruling party ought to produce NGF chairman.

    “They said since the PDP structure in Rivers State has been hijacked from Amaechi, the new leadership of the state chapter should be mandated to initiate his suspension and expulsion.

    “At the closed-door session, they also agreed to recognise Jang’s leadership instead of Amaechi’s.”

    But some of the 19 governors, who backed Amaechi, have also launched a counter-plot to hijack the PDP Governors Forum from Governor Godswill Akpabio.

    About 13 out of the 23 members of the PDP Governors Forum have hatched another plan to call for “a proper election into the chairmanship of the Forum”

    Another source added: “The next battle is going to be at the PDP Governors Forum because Akpabio’s leadership was an imposition. We want election into the PDP Governors Forum.

    “Already, 13 out of 23 members of the PDP Governors Forum have met and agreed to call for “a proper election.” The game is now certainly a tit-for- tat one.”

    A source in Amaechi’s camp said: “they will soon see that Amaechi is the legally elected chairman of the NGF.

    “We saw it coming by video recording the election. They tried their best to stop the recording of the voting process but we were adamant.

    “If they go ahead to witch-hunt Amaechi, all the governors who accounted for the 19 votes will now come out to address the press.”

  • Amaechi and the NGF: An election so disgraceful, so contemptible

    If anything indicates very starkly the hard temper of Nigerian democracy, last Friday’s election of chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) showed why and how. A day to the election, indeed hours before, no one, not even any of the governors, was sure who would win the election, in view of the base emotions that sometimes propel Nigerian politics. But it was always clear that whoever won would find it difficult to rally all the governors behind himself. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State won by 19 votes to Plateau State’s Jonah Jang’s 16 votes, showing how divided and divisive that pressure group has become and how keenly the election was fought for a post that carries no constitutional significance, and is indeed superfluous to the needs of the country, not to talk of the desperate needs of the people of the 36 states.

    It was not as if the sorely tried winner was intrinsically divisive or even controversial. The problem with him, and which his victory evinced, was how, due to no fault of his, he was perceived in the presidency as an upstart and a troublemaker. In saner climes, his commitment to development, his doggedness, his courage and his eloquent grasp of issues should make him a rising star in his party. It is indeed no credit to the image of President Goodluck Jonathan that he and his men virtually demonised the Rivers governor, cast him in the shape of a radical and rebellious outcast, and were prepared to gleefully and unconstitutionally subvert Rivers State and deliberately divide and destroy the NGF.

    The import of the NGF election is not that some governors are miffed by their candidate’s loss, or that the president’s objectives seem for now to have been truncated. (Dr Jonathan is famous for not taking no for an answer). The import is that much more than the president, the country’s 36 governors theoretically form the bulwark of Nigerian democracy, yet many of them have become ardently contemptuous of the elementary principles of democracy. Though they represent the country’s collective political achievement and ideological stability, they have shown a disgraceful incompetence to manage an election in which only 35 people voted. How could a group of top politicians who find it difficult to summon the common sense to win or lose a small election with dignified calmness superintend state and national elections in which tens of millions of Nigerians would vote? How could a group of senior politicians who find it difficult to acknowledge their colleagues’ point of view find the grace and wisdom to tolerate dissent in their own states?

    It does not bother me who won or lost, though, because of the president’s meddlesomeness, I would rather his candidate lost; but I am worried that the governors played infantile politics, politics without principles, politics without nobility, politics without character. I am in fact deeply disturbed that a man of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s moderate accomplishments and admirable eloquence (he talks nineteen to the dozen) should lend his exertions and modest gifts to anomalous and ignoble ends. Where is his soul, and can he call it his own even if it were thrust under his nose? Not only is he disputing what was apparently a transparent election, he has taken incredible and laughable steps to make the NGF self-destruct. Had he offered himself entirely to, say, a great president, we would still have condemned his servility; but at least his faults would be redeemed by the great and noble purpose he wilfully and reckless spent it on. Unfortunately, he has devoted his every talent to the wrong cause and the wrong man.

    Amaechi has won, but I fear he will not be able to unite the association behind himself, nor be able to deploy the group for any meaningful democratic end. I also fear that the presidency, which has become a vindictive and sterile bastion of futile politics, will rededicate itself to destroying Amaechi. Nineteen governors voted for Amaechi; he will be lucky to get more than 20 to stand with him whenever he needs them. More, because of 2015, and because Dr Jonathan cannot rise to a profound level, the presidency will make Amaechi’s remaining years in office a living nightmare. And given the shallowness of the Nigerian mind and the immaturity of their politics, it is not guaranteed that Amaechi will find the kind of support his hard work as a governor and his character as a person merit. And contrary to what he thinks, his victory has not tested and proven Nigerian democracy. His victory, which cannot be divorced from the politics that preceded it or the shenanigan that followed, has only shown how irresponsible and reckless most of those who govern the country have become.

  • NGF chair: Jonathan caged as Amaechi floors Jang

    NGF chair: Jonathan caged as Amaechi floors Jang

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi swept back into office last night as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), against all odds.

    He polled 19 votes to defeat Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State who had 16.

    Elected as Amaechi’s deputy was Governor AbdulAziz Yari of Zamfara State, who was picked ahead of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

    Jang was a late entrant in the race, having joined only 15 minutes before the election and at the prompting of his fellow governors from the North.

    Neither Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina nor Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi, both of who were said to be in the race initially at the behest of the Presidency to scuttle Amaechi’s ambition, unexpectedly stepped aside at the eleventh hour.

    One of the duo was to be endorsed by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) as its official candidate at a meeting preceeding the election. But when neither of them was willing to step down for the other, they were asked to make way for Jang.

    The tension-soaked contest almost ended abruptly after anti-Amaechi governors threatened to walk out.

    Wisdom eventually prevailed and as voting ended and the winner was declared, Amaechi said his victory was a testimony to the success story of Nigeria’s democracy.

    A source at the session said Amaechi won at the first ballot.

    The source said: “We started with a valedictory address by Amaechi, which drew some applause from members.

    “When it was time to go into voting, pro-presidency governors, led by Godswill Akpabio, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Olusegun Mimiko and Liyel Imoke, made desperate clamour for an open ballot system. But most of the governors insisted on secret ballot.

    “That was the first sign that the pro-presidency governors might lose out.

    “In order to improve the chances of Jang winning the poll, the pro-presidency governors reluctantly agreed to a secret ballot system.

    “Thereafter, the governors went into the voting session amidst anxiety. After voting, a pall of silence descended on the hall when the Returning Officer, Mr. A.B. Okauru, who is also the Director-General of the NGF, was about to count the votes.

    “At the end of the day, Amaechi polled 19 votes to defeat Jang. Only Governor Ibrahim Geidam stayed away from the election on personal grounds.”

    Another source said: “The anti-Amaechi governors were disappointed. They became dejected but they could not question the outcome because every vote counted.

    “The poll was free and fair. They had initially planned to march out of the session but the transparency of the ballot was a hindrance.”

    Responding to a question, the governor added: “We also opted for the Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji AbdulAziz Yari as the Deputy Chairman of the NGF instead of the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko put up by anti-Amaechi forces.”

    Investigation revealed that the defeat of anti-Amaechi forces was sealed at the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) where Governors Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda were asked to step aside.

    The NSGF opted for Governor Jonah Jang as consensus candidate following the

    refusal of Governors Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda to step down for each other.

    Based on the resolution, Jang collected the form to contest the seat with the incumbent at about 3.45 pm before the NGF meeting started at 4pm.

    Another governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “With Shema and Yuguda out of the equation, the race became open between Amaechi and Jang, who could not earn the confidence of all the northern governors.

    “So, Jang’s candidature ended up splitting northern governors’ votes and Amaechi benefited tremendously from this.

    “At the Northern Governors Forum session, neither Shema nor Yuguda was ready to step down. The pro-Amaechi governors sold a dummy to anti-Amaechi forces that it would not be good for the North to go to the poll disunited.

    “Some of us also said that the northern governors should go for a neutral candidate so that the Presidency and pro-Amaechi camps would not lay claim to any superiority.

    “It was a perfect plot at the Northern States Governors Forum which anti-Amaechi forces gullibly accepted without reading between the lines. It showed that they are neophytes in politics.”

    Political sources in Abuja said the outcome of the NGF election is a pointer to the massive battle awaiting President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

    It was gathered that yesterday’s victory of Amaechi was largely made possible by political godfathers in different parts of the country as a test case to prove to President Jonathan that he should prepare for the battle ahead in 2015.

    One source said:”Many godfathers of the governors relocated to Abuja to prove a point that democracy is better than coercion.

    “They were unhappy the way Amaechi was being humiliated in the last few weeks. It is now left to Jonathan to allow democracy to grow unfettered.”

    In his acceptance speech, Amaechi said Nigeria ’s democracy has been proven and tested.

    “ Democracy is about participation. The aim of democratic governance is for everyone to partake in winning,” he said,adding: “Today, the governors have spoken with one voice, reaffirming our faith in democratic governance as the hope of Nigeria ’s future.

    “I must thank my colleagues for their tenacity and determination to ensure the unity of the forum, but more importantly of our nation.

    “We remain committed to supporting our leader, the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to realise the development dream of all Nigerians by reducing tension, uncertainty and insecurity in our beloved country.

    “We want to pledge our steadfastness and resolve working alongside Mr. President to better the lives of our people as we render transparent and accountable stewardship.

    “Finally, our thanks go to all those who have patiently endured these times, especially our constituents and members of the fourth estate of the realm who have followed these elections with keen interest. We promise that we will not betray the confidence you have reposed in us.”

    Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Dickson Serike (Bayelsa) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue), arrowheads of theanti-Amaechi forces wore long faces as they emerged from the meeting as soon as it ended, without waiting for the result to be announced to journalists.

    But for the pro-Amaechi camp, it was jubilation all the way. Pumping the air, they sang: “Who can battle with the Lord? Who can battle with the Lord? Nobody.”

    Amaechi is currently embroiled in a face-off with the Presidency and the PDP hierarchy at the national and state levels on account of speculations that he is teaming up with those opposed to President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.

    The governor is being tipped as running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in the next presidential race.

    He has denied nursing any such ambition, but the Presidency seems unconvinced.

    Already, the PDP in Rivers State is factionalised with one side backing the governor and the other rooting for the President and the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

  • Rivers PDP crisis: I’m not fighting Amaechi; I’m for peace, says rival chair Obuah

    Rivers PDP crisis: I’m not fighting Amaechi; I’m for peace, says rival chair Obuah

    The Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Obuah, has stated that he is not fighting Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while insisting that he and members of his executive are for peace.

    He said his executive would ensure good governance at the state level and in all the 23 local government areas of Rivers State being controlled by the ruling PDP.

    Obuah stated that there was no faction in the Rivers PDP in line with the April 15 judgment of an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Ishaq Bello which sacked the Chief Godspower Ake-led executive.

    In an interactive session with reporters at the state secretariat of the PDP, along Aba Road in Port Harcourt yesterday, Obuah wished Amaechi well, as he marks his 48th birthday on Monday.

    He stated that since assumption of office, his executive committee had made efforts in moving the party in Rivers State to the next level, while recently inaugurating various committees to help re-engineer the party.

    He noted that the blackmail of referring to persons who constructively criticised Amaechi’s administration as those wanting to share Rivers’ money must stop forthwith to avoid sanctions.

    The party boss said he and members of his executive had never dreamt of impeaching the Rivers governor, but wanted development of the state, especially the grassroots, thereby transforming the 23 local government areas.

    He further said: “We are for peace. We want to move Rivers State forward. We want to bring everybody together.

    “We must remain one family. Rivers State has been a PDP state since 1999, and it must remain so.”

    He expressed optimism of emerging victorious at the Court of Appeal, while urging members of the party and Rivers people to continue to give peace a chance.

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, had earlier told Obuah and members of his executive to bear in mind that “the governor is the leader of the party in the state.”

    Wike, a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, noted that the PDP had regulations.

    He further said: “What is important to know is that the governor of the state is the leader of the PDP in Rivers State. That is the structure of the party. As a minister, I am not the leader of the party.

    “A leader of the party is a member of the party, and, therefore, the party is supreme. Supremacy of the party is very important. Let me advise the party chairman, go and bring back your children, but one thing that is paramount in this party is that the party must not compromise.

    “What you must know in life is that change is difficult to accept. When there is change, you do not expect people at the same time to embrace the change. Sometimes, they have no choice, but to embrace it.

    “We must at all times respect and follow the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We cannot negotiate it. He (President Jonathan) is our son and in-law. By the special grace of God, we will continue to be wherever he is, until he tells us otherwise.

    “We are in the PDP. We will follow the programmes of the party. We have no choice, but to support his government. I am appealing to every true PDP member that we will continue to support the President and Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. That is important.”

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers chapter, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, also yesterday asked Rivers labour leaders to avoid undue involvement in the PDP’s deepening crisis, but to focus on activities that would positively impact on the lives of their members.

    The party considered the planned two-day warning strike from Monday and the eventual indefinite strike by Rivers workers as unnecessary, uncalled for and an undue interference in an avoidable crisis which it alleged had opened a can of worms in the ruling PDP.

    The party also said the PDP had failed to call itself to order through amicable resolution of its internal crisis.

    It pointed out that attempts by labour and trade union leaders to drag themselves into the PDP’s crisis would not only cause more tension and disaffection in the state, but would heighten the state of insecurity and distrust.

    The ACN said: “We call on the labour union leaders to reject the temptation of withdrawing the services of their union members through strike.

    “Rather than embark on such damaging, disgraceful and unwarranted action, the unions could better demonstrate more civility by showing genuine concern to their members in ensuring that the numerous welfare packages denied civil servants since the inception of the present administration in the state, are restored.

    “Governor Rotimi Amaechi illegally withheld federal allocations for four local government councils for four months on flimsy excuses that the affected council chairmen did not attend meeting on time and were not loyal. Labour leaders in the state did not kick, especially when their members in the four local government councils were denied salaries for four months.”

    The opposition party urged the labour leaders in the state not to act in a way prejudicial to the decision of the courts on the PDP’s crisis.

    It also told the members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) not to allow themselves to be dragged into political matters, especially that of the Obio/Akpor council.

    The ACN then urged the labour and the trade union leaders to rather help to bring an end to the PDP crisis in Rivers State and not to fuel it.

  • NGF poll: Anti-Amaechi camp splits

    NGF poll: Anti-Amaechi camp splits

    All is set for a battle royale as three candidates have picked nomination forms to vie for the Office of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    The three governors are the incumbent chairman, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

    The emergence of two candidates from the presidency/ anti-Amaechi forces signposts a split.

    Desperate efforts were being made last night to bring Shema and Yuguda to a dialogue table to enable one of them to step down.

    The Northern Governors Forum last night fixed a meeting for today between 11am and 2pm.

    A source at the NGF Secretariat said: “Just a few minutes ago, Governor Isa Yuguda came to obtain a nomination form. We have three candidates vying for the office now.

    “We are still working out modalities for the election which would hold on Friday (today). So far, we do not envisage any hiccups at all.”

    It was however gathered that all the governors have broken into different caucuses to strategise for the poll.

    Another source added: “The loyalists of the candidates have been coming to different caucuses to sell their qualities ahead of the election. It is like a mini-campaign.

    “The major problem in the camp of the presidency/anti-Amaechi forces is that Shema has refused to step down for Yuguda.

    “The anti-Amaechi forces are worried that the Rivers State governor can have an easy ride if their camp remains divided.

    “But pro-Amaechi governors were suspecting last night that the nomination of Shema and Yuguda could be a deliberate ploy to distract them so that they would not know who is contesting against their candidate.”

    “We want to use the opportunity of the session to harmonize our position. Northern governors are 19, our votes are vital to the emergence of any NGF chairman,” a governor said.

    Asked if block voting is possible by the Forum, the governor said: “It is remote but we can be united for a common cause.

    “We have our own challenge too because some governors see the NGF chair as a ticket to the clinching of the Vice-Presidency in 2015.”

    The Northern Reconnaissance Group (NRG) has advised Northern governors to stand firm by voting for their conscience.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Most governors want secret ballot; those opposed to Amaechi were lobbying for open ballot or no election. They want governors to openly identify with their preferred candidate for the NGF chair.“I think the anti-Amaechi forces, who had collected signatures, are determined to monitor whether PDP governors in particular will keep faith with the wish of the Presidency.

    “So far, the NGF secretariat has not been able to resolve the mode of the ballot.”

    Responding to a question, a source at the NGF secretariat said: “We have been holding a series of meeting since morning on election modalities.

    “While we are doing this, more governors have signified intention to join the race. We are waiting for them to obtain the nomination form before we make the list public.”

    Article 6.3 -6.7of the NGF Constitution says: “The meeting of the Governing Board shall be known as the General Meeting and shall hold as many times as circumstances and members’ convenience dictate but not less than once quarterly.

    “The quorum at the General Meeting shall be half of the total number of the Members of the Governing Board.

    “Notice of the General Meeting shall be communicated to the members in writing or orally or through other means of communication not less than three days to the meeting

    “Members of the Governing Board shall elect from among themselves a person to be known and addressed as Chairman who shall preside over the affairs of the Board and chair all its meetings and another to be known and addressed as Vice-Chairman, who shall assist the Chairman in directing the affairs of the Board and chair its meeting in the absence of the chairman.

    “In electing the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, members shall give due regard to;

    “The principle of federal character; and the need to reflect political party representation in the Board, so as to ensure that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are not persons elected as Governors of their states on the platform of the same political party but on the platforms of the two political parties with the highest representation in the Board.

    “The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman shall hold office for a term of two years but shall be available for re-election for another but final term of two years.”

    The NRG has advised Northern governors to stand firm by voting their conscience.

    In a statement, signed by its President, Idris Mahuya Ahmed, the group begged Northern governors not to succumb to pressure from the Presidency.

    The statement said: “As we write this letter, you all stand at the cross roads of your political lives. The choice of which road to take does not even appear to belong to you people, except a few principled ones among you. A majority of you have become victims of a vested interest and manipulative forces within the Presidency. You all have a choice to be your own men like you have always been in the North or you become puppets and little dumb kids like the lamb meant for the slaughter.

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof Tam David-West, urged Amechi to re-contest the election. He urged him to disregard the chiefs of Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State who asked him not to run when they visited Jonathan in Abuja.

    “The chiefs do not understand the issues at stake; they are expressing their own views and not the views of the Kalabari people. I and the Kalabari Kingdom are asking and supporting the governor to contest”.

    The former minister who is from Rivers State said Amaechi has the right to contest.

    Second Republic Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa urged President Jonathan not to meddle in the election of the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum.

    The former governor cautioned the president against imposing his candidate on the governors.

    “What does President Jonathan want to achieve with the Governors Forum? Does he think that all the governors belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

    “If it is true that he is interfering with the Governors Forum election, it is undemocratic and he must be opposed vehemently. He may succeed in using the governors from the PDP and dump them later, but certainly he cannot use the governors from the opposing political parties for any reason.

    “I want to also believe that he is out to impose state of emergency in other States that are not controlled by PDP and if he dares do that again, he is heading for a disaster, he is heading for serious trouble.

  • Why Ijaw want Amaechi out, by ex-militants

    Why Ijaw want Amaechi out, by ex-militants

    The plot to unseat Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi thickened yesterday as Ijaw former leaders of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) urged the House of Assembly to impeach the governor.

    Ijaw leaders of MEND, who met in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, accused the governor of implementing anti-Ijaw policies, adding that it would be a victory for their kinsmen, if the governor is impeached.

    Paul Eris (aka General Ogunboss), who spoke with reporters after the meeting, said: “I want to categorically state that Amechi’s impeachment will be a big lift for us (Ijaw) and we are strongly in support of it.”

    The call by the former warlords came against the back drop of reports that the governor’s opponents have released money to sponsor ongoing “Amaechi Must Go” protests across the state.

    It was reliably gathered that touts and street urchins were given unspecified amount of money and gifts on Wednesday at the Boro Park, Mile 1, to join the protest.

    A source at the venue said: “I witnessed a group of motor park touts sharing souvenirs and money at the Isaac Boro Park to run a rally tagged “Amaechi must go”.

    However, Ogunboss, who chaired the Yenagoa meeting, said in a statement that their call for Amaechi’s impeachment was informed by the governor’s role in the demolition of houses belonging to the Ijaw in Port Harcourt.

    He said: “We have not forgotten the abnormalities and excess use of force by the Amaechi-led government which in recent times demolished houses belonging to poor Ijaw in waterfront suburbs in Port Harcourt, Okirika and other communities.”

    The former MEND leader further disclosed that Wednesday’s protest by other ex-militant leaders, including Ateke Tom and others, was a true reflection of the mindset of the people.

    He urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to listen to the voice of the people by impeaching the governor.

  • Amaechi and the NGF election

    Amaechi and the NGF election

    As governors head to the poll today to elect the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), neither the people of Rivers State nor the powerful schemers in the presidency can determine conclusively what the aftermath would look like. The most important factor in the election is the fact that Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State is seeking a second term. The presidency pretends it is not interested in who leads the NGF. In reality, however, it is deeply and obsessively interested, as if should its candidate win, the victor would inexorably be its puppet and insult other governors by being the presidency’s lapdog. Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema is expected to cross swords with Amaechi for the position.

    Should Amaechi win, his troubles with the increasingly powerful President Goodluck Jonathan will worsen, for as Amaechi is boisterously irreverent and implacable, the president is laconically stubborn and imperious. Neither of the two takes prisoners, nor does any of them fancy himself as a prisoner of the other. The ongoing struggle between Rivers and the presidency has manifested in various ways, including struggle for oil wells, the controversy over the so-called excess crude account, the sovereign wealth fund palaver, and the politics of 2015 and how to deliver the votes of Rivers State. So far, it is an unequal combat. While Amaechi seems powerless, he nonetheless appears to sit on the moral high ground. And while the presidency, which has instigated series of problems for the governor, appears so powerful, it has nonetheless acted without the ethical scruples expected of Nigeria’s highest office, or the nobility expected of a sermonising president.

    If the election proceeds decorously, and the governors have the decency to recognise that all eyes are on them, by the end of today or the early hours of Saturday, the election will have been lost or won. That the loser, especially if it is the presidency’s candidate, will reconcile himself to his loss is doubtful. So, expect more troubles in the near future. But if Amaechi were to lose, still expect a different type of trouble ahead, for the governors who support him will permanently resent the winner. From all indications, the NGF is already polarised, and will take long to heal after the election, if it ever heals. The polarisation indicates that many governors are in fact overrated and cannot be trusted to act with the maturity and savvy expected of their high offices. It is truly remarkable how they exhibit such fiery passions and betray a lack of character over a body that is, strictly speaking, not even constitutional.

    But by far the most remarkable factor in the NGF election is the attitude of a loud section of Rivers State society. No one can ignore the political chicanery going on the state as the presidency sponsors politicians to unsettle Amaechi. This chicanery has disabled the state assembly from sitting, created theatrical atmosphere in which the state police commissioner seems to have taken sides, and protests and more protests are being organised almost on a daily basis, for barely discernible reasons. Sometime last week, a group of women demonstrated in support of the governor, calling on the state police commissioner to be redeployed. A day after, and in an unprecedented move, another group of women demonstrated in support of the rather voluble state police commissioner who keeps reminding everyone he got a degree from the University of Lagos, almost as if learning and character were the same thing.

    Now, two days ago, ex-militants were reported to have also taken to the streets to pressure the governor to resign. In addition, another group of contrarians calling itself Rivers PDP elders want their governor to step down from contesting the NGF chair. Enough is happening in Rivers State to indicate firmly that the presidency is at war with Amaechi. The NGF election will, therefore, not be the end of the war irrespective of whoever wins or loses, and the presidency will be as eager to undermine the constitution to unhorse the recalcitrant governor as it will be unprepared to take defeat gamely. But as the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency proved lavishly a few years back, a president that indulges in petty political squabbles diminishes not only himself and the country he leads, he also embarrasses his office and consigns himself to future irrelevance.

  • Amaechi, Shema pick NGF poll forms

    Amaechi, Shema pick NGF poll forms

    Barely 24 hours to the election of a new chairman for the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), there appears to be a crack in the camp of the group opposed to the re-election of Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema yesterday defied pressure on him to step down for Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda.

    Shema yesterday collected the nomination form to challenge Amaechi for the NGF chair. Amaechi also picked the nomination form.

    Yuguda, who is yet to submit his nomination form, spent a greater part of Wednesday consulting on why he should emerge as a consensus candidate.

    Many governors yesterday relocated to Abuja for last-minute consultations.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday invited Shema to a meeting in Asokoro District to persuade him to step down for Yuguda.

    It was gathered that the BoT members tried to make Shema to realise that the presidency is now disposed to Yuguda as a neutral candidate.

    Although Shema did not make any commitment, he decided to be his own man by obtaining the chairmanship election form.

    A highly-placed source said: “Shema has shunned pressure to step down for Yuguda contrary to the permutations of those desperate to remove Amaechi. The politics of 2015 has also set in among Northern governors

    “I think those backing Shema believe that if he wins the NGF chairmanship poll, he can be in the best position to vie for the Office of Vice-President in 2015. They have therefore advised him not to step down.

    “The post Vice-President Namadi Sambo’ s politics has started and it will shape the NGF election too.”

    Responding to a question, another source added: “The challenge before the forces in the presidency is how to prevail on Shema to give up his ambition fr Yuguda.

    “This last-minute accord is delaying Yuguda from obtaining nomination form. If Shema remains adamant, they might ask Yuguda to forego his aspiration to lead the NGF.

    “So, you can see that there is a problem in the presidency’s camp. The crack could lead to protest vote with neither Shema nor Yuguda winning the poll.”

    An official of the NGF secretariat simply said: “Only governors Amaechi and Shema have obtained nomination forms. But the nomination form’s collection has not closed.”

  • Rivers crisis: We’ll correct our mistakes, AIG tells Amaechi

    Rivers crisis: We’ll correct our mistakes, AIG tells Amaechi

    THE police may have erred in dealing with the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, the leadership admitted yesterday.

    Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 Jonathan Johnson made the acknowledgement when he led a delegation of senior officers in the zone on a courtesy visit to Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    He directed that police orderlies withdrawn from some top government officials be restored.

    AIG Johnson, who pledged better policing in the state, promised to correct his men’s mistakes.

    According to him, he has directed Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu to guard against security breaches.

    He said: “So, we will take note of all these mistakes and we will correct them. I am assuring you, we will correct them. If there are lapses noticed, let us know so that we can make amends.

    “And I also want to thank you (Amaechi) for all you have done for us and the others that you are going to do. We shall continue to appreciate because you know requests from the police will never stop coming.

    “Every human being that has served or is going to serve (the Nigeria Police Force) is sometimes susceptible to some errors here and there and when that comes to the forefront, it is incumbent on that very particular person to say we shall amend.

    “I know when these issues of withdrawal of security from some staff officers of yours came, there were agitations here and there.”

    Johnson said he had also instructed the police commissioner (who was in his entourage) to replace the orderlies from the Anti-Terrorism Squad withdrawn from some state government officials with policemen from the Special Protection Unit.

    He praised Amaechi for showing understanding.

    Johnson said: “We have always been at the wrong side of history because of one thing or the other, but you (Amaechi) show understanding in our mistakes, you show understanding in our service and that is why you’ve provided all these things. We remain grateful to you on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police. We say a big thank you.”

    He lauded the governor for being police-friendly and for kitting policemen in the State Police Command.