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Governors to NASS: Probe Jonathan over missing $49.8b

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) led by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday called on the National Assembly to institute comprehensive international audit to probe the alleged missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 trillion) from the Federation Account.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lamido Sanusi Lamido, few weeks back raised alarm on the missing money while the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-iweala, disagreed with the position.

Reading the communiqué of the meeting held in Abuja that ended in the early hours of Thursday, Amaechi noted that declining state revenue being witnessed by the government is not unconnected with such financial diversions.

He said: “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting today, at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows: On the issue of the missing $49.8 billion (N8.5 Trillion) or equivalent of two years of the National Budget, there is no evidence that this amount was paid into the Federation Account or duly appropriated.

“We accordingly call on the National Assembly to institute a comprehensive independent forensic audit by an international reputable firm. We fear that the recent decline of State Revenues is not unconnected with the financial diversion.

The Forum also maintained that the Federal Government is in breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act by failing to consult with states before forwarding it to National Assembly.

It also noted that the National Economic Council meeting has not held in the last four months.

Amaechi said: “In clear breach of the provision of Section 11, Part II of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 which requires the Federal Government to hold consultations with states before the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) is laid before the National Assembly; consultation with states on the MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper (2014-2016) did not hold.”

“The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting where issues of this nature would have been discussed last held four months ago.”

The forum also noted with dismay the recent violent attacks and killings that took place in Borno State and the attack on the father of the Kano State Governor.

On attacks in River State, the forum said: “We also condemn the flagrant violation of the rights of citizens to freely assemble in Rivers State by the Nigerian Police; the excessive use of force against unarmed citizens in the exercise of their fundamental rights and the shooting of Senator Magnus Abe.

“The financial irregularities relating to public accounting, the lack of compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, and the recent security breaches are not unconnected with the refusal of the Federal Government to convene meetings of statutory institutions created in the Constitution such as the National Economic Council (NEC), the Council of State, the Nigeria Police Council and meetings of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). We urge a return to the path of constitutionalism.”

January 16, 2014
Rivers N486b budget passed

•Lawmakers sit at Govt House

A MID tight security, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi presented to the Assembly yesterday a N485.524 billion budget for this year.

The budget, which is N4.797billion lower than last year’s N490.320 billion, was immediately passed inside the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The ceremony took place, in spite of protests by the six lawmakers loyal to the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The capital and recurrent provisions are N247.573 billion and N237.950 billion. The capital to recurrent ratio is 76:24 for the financial year 2014, as against 70:30 achieved as at September 2013.

The budget, according to Amaechi, who is also the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman, will be funded by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee’s (FAAC’s) allocation of N241.243 billion and the Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of N92.420 billion.

Others include balance of N10.717 billion, proposed loans of N100 billion, credit from the World Bank of N6.983 billion, the European Union’s (EU’s) grant of N0.660 billion and the sale of assets of N33.5 billion.

The Ministry of Works has the highest allocation of N60 billion, followed by the Ministry of Education with N30 billion. The Rivers Urban Beautification, Parks and Gardens, as well as the Auditor-General (State), each has the lowest of 0.080 billion.

The budget was passed into law, after a few hours deliberations by 23 of the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree.

The six anti-Amaechi lawmakers, in a joint statement, however, raised the alarm over Amaechi’s plan to present the 2014 budget inside the Brick House (Government House), instead of the hallowed chambers of the Rivers House of Assembly, which was done later in the day.

Prior to the budget presentation, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Leyii Kwanee, a lawyer, on Rhythm FM Radio in Port Harcourt yesterday, denied the anti-Amaechi lawmakers’ claim and said the people would be informed when the budget would be presented in the Assembly.

The pro-Wike legislators are Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo constituency, the self-acclaimed speaker), Michael Okechukwu Chinda (Obio/Akpor II), Kelechi Godspower Nwogu (Omuma), Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I), Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III) and Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, the Chief Whip (Andoni). They were not at the budget presentation.

Ibani, until his December 1 last year’s defection to Wike’s camp, was one of the 27 pro-Amaechi members of the Assembly.

The chief whip is a political “boy” to the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, from Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area, but defected at the rally of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which has Wike as the grand patron) in Ogu, the headquarters of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.

In the earlier group of 27 lawmakers supporting Amaechi and led by Amachree, one of them, Tonye Harry, a former Speaker of the Assembly and deputy to Amaechi while he was speaker for eight years, died last year. He is yet to be replaced.

Besides the anti-Amaechi lawmakers’ joint statement, Bipi, in a telephone interview yesterday, described the budget presentation as illegal, stressing that the budget could only be presented in the Assembly.

Amachree said the budget presentation and passage took place inside the Government House, in view of the ongoing renovation at the House of Assembly complex, because of the July 9 last year’s fracas, with most of the appliances and valuable items vandalised.

Amachree also cited insecurity and not having access to the Assembly complex as other reasons for the Government House budget presentation and passage. He accused Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu of taking sides and unable to provide security for the lawmakers to perform their duties.

The deputy speaker, a lawyer, also insisted that the presentation was legal and one of the constitutional rights and duties of the lawmakers.

A renowned human rights activist, Ken Atsuwete, who is a Port Harcourt lawyer, backed the budget presentation and passage at the seat of power, while declaring that governance in the state was nor normal, in view of insecurity and uncertainty.

Atsuwete noted that ingenuity and keeping governance running must be employed in the state, especially with the incessant bomb blasts across the state, particularly in courts and at the office of the Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru, an engineer.

The activist (Atsuwete) noted that the budget presentation and passage in Government House amounted to adopting the Doctrine of Necessity, which the National Assembly employed in making Dr. Goodluck Jonathan President, stressing that the legislature and the judiciary were being frustrated, but “the executive must not be frustrated”.

While speaking live on Rhythm FM Radio in Port Harcourt at 4 pm yesterday, two of the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers: Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, the Chief Whip (Andoni) and Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I), faulted the budget presentation and passage, saying the implementation would be legally prevented.

Ibani, who has been a lawmaker for six years, said: “The 31 legislators (Tonye Harry, a pro-Amaechi lawmaker and ex-Speaker of the House of Assembly, died last year; he is yet to be replaced) ought to receive the 2014 budget from Governor Amaechi in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“There cannot be an exception to the rule. Anything to the contrary is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

“You cannot present and pass budget into law in one day. It is laughable. It is an injustice. There is separation of powers. What they did will be challenged in court. It is a constitutional matter.”

Amaewhule also described the action of the pro-Amaechi lawmakers and the NGF chairman as condemnable.

The representative of Obio/Akpor I Constituency said: “What took place in Government House, Port Harcourt today (yesterday) was a kangaroo club meeting and not 2014 budget presentation and passage.

“Budget presentation and passage outside the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly amount to an illegality, unconstitutional and quite shameful. These have never happened in the history of Rivers State.”

Late last year, the anti-Amaechi legislators attempted to sit in the Rivers House of Assembly, based on the December 10 judgment of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, which declared as unconstitutional, the taking over of the Assembly by the National Assembly, but were prevented by policemen.

For many weeks late last year, the pro and anti-Amaechi lawmakers and supporters, including the members of the National Assembly, top Rivers government officials and prominent indigenes, protested in front of the Assembly, but were always teargased and dispersed by policemen, who barricaded the Assembly’s gates with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and patrol vans.

In view of their inability to access the Assembly, the pro-Amaechi lawmakers, with plastic chairs form the nearby Port Harcourt City council, sat at the centre of Moscow Road, in front of the Assembly.

The decision of the anti-Amaechi lawmakers and supporters to continue to protest in front of the Rivers House of Assembly, even as early as 4 am, for many days late last year, was to prevent the budget presentation and passage, while also raising the alarm then, of a plan by the pro-Amaechi legislators to sit inside the Government House.

At yesterday’s presentation were commissioners, other top government officials and eminent Rivers indigenes.

Presenting the appropriation bill for 2014, christened: “A year of sustained action”, Amaechi lauded the legislators for their “very kind” support and encouragement.

The budget estimates were based on crude oil benchmark price of $67.5 to create a safety net of $10, in view of the inconsistent nature of the international oil market prices, to enable the government accommodate any shocks resulting from possible fluctuation.

Amaechi expected his administration’s FAAC and IGR profile to be realistic, based on the modest projections, the reforms and improvements going on in the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).

He assured the people that the strategies, coupled with improvements in the implementation of policies and programmes this year were designed to handle the eventualities, while noting that the budget was presented after due consultations with stakeholders within and outside the public service.

The NGF chairman said: “On behalf of the Rivers State Government, I would like to record our gratitude to Rivers people for supporting and defending the mandate given us in October 2007, to continue to lead the state.

“In return, we shall be unwavering in our determination to deliver on every promise made to you, to deliver good governance and sustainable development. Neither our personal comfort nor any threat to our persons would deter us from reaching our collective goals as Rivers people.

“In the midst of these provocations, we will fulfill the promises of our mandate and make our people proud. The 2014 budget will not accommodate new projects. This is in the light of current realities and out of a resolve to guarantee efficient service delivery.

“The economic realities arising from already-dwindling revenues since mid 2013 suggest a need for prudence and good sense this year. Government will continue to demonstrate good sense of management, by making more money available to finance the ongoing projects for completion next year.

“The focus of the budget (2014) will be on completing ongoing projects in health, education, roads, transport, power, water, agriculture and other critical infrastructure. The 2014 budget is formulated to achieve the agenda of this administration, with the overall objective of prospering the state and promoting the wellbeing of the people.”

The Rivers governor also stated that his administration remained indebted to the lawmakers and grateful for all their support, encouragement and good sense of judgment, “particularly at this great moment of the state’s political history”. He urged them to sustain the tempo, in the interest of Rivers people.

He said: “Posterity will judge your stance fairly, even as today, you have become hallmarks and bastions of our democracy. We at the Executive, reaffirm the commitment of this administration to our people and our stand for justice and equity and fair play.”

Amaechi also stated that he remained focused and would never be distracted by the antics of the enemies of democracy.

Prior to the commencement of the deliberations, during their brief sitting, the speaker of the Rivers Assembly (Amachree), stated that the lawmakers decided to continue with their legislative duties in makeshift chambers, in order not to be held to ransom by some persons who did not mean well for the state.

Amachree called on the House’s Deputy Leader, Nname Ewor, to move the motion to designate the makeshift chambers as the chambers of the House of Assembly, after which the Assembly’s Deputy Whip, Irene Inimgba, seconded the motion.

Moving the motion, Ewor said: “As it is common knowledge that on the 9th day of July, 2013, there were few events that took place in the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“In that circumstance, our computers and a few other items in the chambers, including the entire complex, were destroyed. As a result of this, our chambers are not ready for use, because the executive arm of government will have to undertake holistic repair and renovation of the complex.

“In this circumstance, I move that this auditorium be designated as a temporary sitting place of the Rivers State House of Assembly, until such a time that the executive would finish with the renovation of the permanent Assembly complex that will enable us to carry on with our legislative business. I so move.”

January 8, 2014
Tension of civility

•The president erred in describing the political unease today as normal

The first Sunday of a New Year usually presents a platform for spiritual homily in churches. The one for 2014 was not different except that President Goodluck Jonathan at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Area 1, Abuja, where he went for the first Sunday service of the year gave an extempore speech that attempted to distort the reasons behind political tensions in the land. He declared at the COCIN service: “….the political environment is always noisy all over the world. There is nowhere you won’t hear so much noise. Even the United States of America, not long ago… was almost shut down. For so many months, people were worried that the country that had practised democracy for so many years could get to that situation. But that is politics for you.’’

The president missed the point through his incongruous comparison on the shutdown in the United States with what is happening in our country. We recollect that the President Barrack Obama administration from October 1 to October 16, 2013, suffered a shutdown and curtailed most routine operations after Congress failed to enact legislation appropriating funds for the 2014 fiscal year. And it is on record that regular government operations did not resume until October 17 after an interim appropriations bill was signed into law by the Republican Party dominated Congress. The United States matter arose out of disagreement over policy issues and not petty personal ambition/other detrimental considerations that remain the root cause of political tensions generated in the country by the Jonathan presidency.

We know that the intent of Mr. President was to downplay the festering of odious bitter rancour that his presidency has foisted on the nation. In vain can anyone decipher what the president sees as normal in the tension of impunity his reign has created in the country. For a start, could it be that the illegal use of Police institution to circumvent democratically elected Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state by Mrs. Patience Jonathan, with obvious support of her husband, something normal in a democracy? The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairmanship election witnessed democratic murder when 16 governors taking sides with the president claimed to have won the NGF election over 19 other governors? Shamefully, the president hosted the defiant 16 after the election to a meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. Is the kind of tension generated by this disdainful electoral abracadabra what the president sees as normal? We ask again: What about the illegal short payments and later outright non-payment of states’ monthly allocation by the current administration? The president and his wife have generated more tension, albeit for the wrong reasons. Sometime last year, Mrs. Jonathan received an honorary doctorate degree from a foreign university at a time when the nation’s universities were under lock and key. Could tensions from all these be normal?

We recollect that disarray in the ruling party has become serious distractions to governance. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, an acknowledged benefactor of President Jonathan, wrote a damning letter in which he accused him of, among others, corruption, bad governance, putting 1000 personalities on a watch list and regrettably, of training snipers in preparation for the 2015 elections. Could avoidable apprehension arising from these weighty allegations deemed to be normal in a democracy? More alarming is that members of the mega opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) are justifiably scared of their lives because of the wanton impunity with which Jonathan rules over the country.

President Jonathan should learn to put issues in correct perspectives. His deficiency in this regard might be responsible for the wrong approach to most state policies embarked upon by his administration. We want tension of civility and decorum, not Jonathan’s officially created ones through crass presidential impunity.

NGF)

January 7, 2014
JTF arrests Amaechi’s opponents with arms,ammunition, hands them over to police

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, codenamed Operation Pulo (Oil) Shield, has arrested six persons with arms and ammunition in Rivers State, with sources indicating that the suspects are political opponents of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The Spokesman of the JTF, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, last night, confirmed the arrest, but insisted that the suspects were picked for illegal possession of firearms and not for political reason.

Nwachukwu said: “As at 3rd January six suspects with arms were arrested during a routine patrol at Ogu community in Ogu/Bolo LGA (of Rivers State). Items recovered were: 7 x AK-47, 164 rounds of ammunition and six locally made canon launchers.

“Suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Police yesterday (Friday). They were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and not for any reason of political or social affiliation as being wrongly insinuated.”

The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), when contacted at 8:12 pm yesterday, said of the suspects’ handover to the police by the JTF: “I have not been briefed of such handover, for now.”

A source in Port Harcourt stated that the suspects were associates of Senator George Sekibo, who represents Rivers East Senatorial District and the self-acclaimed Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Evans Bipi, the representative of Ogu/Bolo constituency, who are allies of the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience.

The source said: “On January 3rd, members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) arrested six youths around Ekporo Road, on their way to Ogu in Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State. They were in an off white Land Rover jeep, with registration number JJ 441 BZ. The youths were arrested based on their suspicious movement.

“Those arrested gave their names as Sunday Elisha, Uche Jenikachi, Ibinabo Lawson, Okechukwu Okoro, Jerry Tonye and Daniel Ibito-Anga, who parades himself and his known in Ogu/Bolo as Security Adviser/Personal Assiatant to both Senator George Sekibo and Evans Bipi.

“Both Senator Sekibo and Evans Bipi are from Ogu and are known and have confessed publicly to be extremely close associates of the Nigerian First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who hails from nearby Okrika and they all speak the same native Okrika dialect.

“As a matter of fact, Evans Bipi was a domestic aide of Mrs. Jonathan before he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly in 2011. Senator Sekibo, who nurses a governorship ambition in 2015, is hoping to ride into Rivers State Government House on the back of Mrs. Jonathan.

All of them are also known publicly to be fighting the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.”

While also corroborating that arms and ammunition recovery from the suspects by the JTF, the sources said: “Found in the possession of the boys and recovered from them were 7 AK-47 assorted riffles, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm special life ammunition and 10 life magazines, among others.

“After their arrest, they were taken by the JTF team to Bori Camp, the military base in Port Harcourt. The boys have been handed over to the police in Rivers State. The police in the state are headed by the Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, who is said to have been brought to head the State Police Command by Mrs. Jonathan. Mbu has been accused of taking directives from Mrs. Jonathan and her associates.

“Only recently, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, raised the alarm that arms, ammunition and weapons are being brought into the state (Rivers) by those opposed to his administration, ahead of the next general elections.”

It will be recalled that Amaechi, President Jonathan, Dame Patience, and most leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state had been at loggerheads over the scheming for 2015 and worsened with the NGF chairman’s defection to the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

January 5, 2014
Amaechi: Wike, Opara betrayed me

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said at the weekend that Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Wike and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Austin Opara, betrayed him.

He said having made them to get to top positions, they connived with others to fight him for personal and selfish interests.

All of them are of Ikwere, the largest ethnic stock in the state.

Wike was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), spoke on Sunday night at the 199th Convention of the Ikwerre Cultural Organisation, Wat Ahai Ogbakiri in Emohua Local Government Area.

The Rivers governor told the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, the socio-cultural body of Ikwerre people in Rivers state, that both Wike and Opara were now leading the fight against him in the state.

The NGF chairman lamented that in spite of his contributions to give the Ikwerre ethnic nationality a face-lift and a pride of place in Rivers state and on the national stage, he had been betrayed by his brothers.

He said: “Gradually, we are beginning to wind up in government and I have started counting either my blessings or losses one by one as governor of Rivers State.

“I have started asking what have I done for Ikwerre people and I’m convinced that the Ikwerre history cannot be complete if my name is not mentioned.

“I am not saying this because I am the governor. As the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I ensured that most parts of Ikwerre have roads. The ones that did not get then, when I became governor they got roads.

“Only a few communities may not have roads in Ikwerre now, and before we go, I will make sure they have roads like most parts of the state. We will ensure that those communities have roads. As Speaker, I asked for the grading of this Ogbakiri road.”

The Rivers governor also stated that he was aware that the basic thing needed in Ikwerre was basic empowerment.

He said: “You will not recognise it, until you take the list of our scholarship programme in the state and know how many of our children are overseas studying. They are quite many and I have met them at different airports.

“How I know them is because they greet me in Ikwerre when they see me. I have asked myself apart from those who are fighting me, many Ikwerre sons and daughters have one way or the other benefitted from me.

“When you see Nyesom Wike, tell him I nominated him to be Minister. And I have one witness sitting here today. Chief Sampson Agbaru is my witness. He led other prominent sons and daughters of Ikwerre to see President (Goodluck) Jonathan and the President told them that he had not known Nyesom Wike from Adam, that when Amaechi brought Wike’s name, he (Jonathan) opposed it. The President opposed the appointment of my former Chief of Staff as Minister.

“He (President Jonathan) opposed him (Wike) and I begged President Jonathan severally and consistently because I wanted Wike to be minister. But today, Nyesom Wike has betrayed me for selfish reasons.

“Also, by the grace of God, I made Chief Austin Opara, Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. God used me. Prominent politicians met me and told me that there could not be two captains in a boat, that if I made Austin Opara Deputy Speaker, I might not be the political leader in Ikwerre. But I said I wanted my people to benefit and I picked Austin’s name and we battled to make him Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2003.”

The NGF chairman also revealed how the ex-deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (Opara) allegedly masterminded his arrest and detention in 2006.

Amaechi said: “In 2006, I was arrested through the machinery of Austin Opara and was detained for one day. Meanwhile, he was supposedly one of my supporters to be governor. Among those, I have also helped who are now fighting me is also Prof. Achinewhu, as Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

“Achinewhu was sick and at the point of death. I flew him out of the country for medical treatment, but he is now one of those accusing me and writing against me in the papers. For those I gave contracts, they are so many for me to mention.

“If they deny, call the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention and summon them, I will come here and mention them one by one. For instance, Paul Nwonodi is one of them. He is now fighting me and writing and signing all sorts against me.

He said: “We will survive the federal might and the way to survive it is to mobilise our people. We must prepare now to chase away those against our people. The President says he is an Ijaw man, he should not take the oil wells from the Kalabari people.”

Amaechi also promised that he would remain a detribalised leader, until the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

The President-General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, Prof. Augustine Ahiazu, described the current wave of politicking in Rivers State as alarming, stating that it could cause permanent injury to individuals and the various communities.

Ahiazu said: “Bitterness in politics can result in undue hatred among friends and relations. It can breed division and polarisation. It can also bring conflict and destruction.

“Ikwerre sons and daughters should come together to fight any plans for violence in Port Harcourt, because any violence in Port Harcourt is violence in Ikwerre land.”

The minister of state for education, in an interview in Port Harcourt, insisted that he never betrayed Amaechi, whom he supported to be governor in 2007.

Wike, maintained that the NGF chairman did not recommend him to President Jonathan to be appointed minister. Opara also stated that change was needed in Rivers state, with the people and others in the crude oil and gas-rich Southsouth zone preferring President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015 to Amaechi’s alleged interest in being the vice-president during the next general election.

December 31, 2013
How Patience tried to hijack Rivers, by Amaechi

•Blames President’s wife for ‘resuscitating’ kidnapping in PH

•PDP can only win in 2015 through rigging

•Amaechi has lost control, says Minister

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has given a fresh insight into why he fell out with President Goodluck Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience.

The governor, who doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), told reporters at an interactive session in Port Harcourt on Friday night that Mrs. Jonathan wanted to dictate to him how to run the affairs of the state but that he refused to dance to her tunes.

Mrs. Jonathan, like Amaechi, hail from Rivers State.

Their disagreement is at the core of the current political crisis in the state with the State House of Assembly shut down following the polarisation of its members along the line of those for or against the governor.

The minority six members against the governor are widely believed to be receiving encouragement from the Presidency.

He said: “The wife of the President wanted to macro-manage governance in Rivers State and I said no, you cannot. I was elected. If I fail, they will not say the wife of the President failed; they will say Governor Amaechi failed. I am accountable to God, men and women of Rivers State.

“The wife of the President was not elected the Governor of Rivers State. I was elected. I am not in any way the wife of the President. I am the Governor of Rivers State, married to Judith Amaechi.

“I am telling you why they want to crucify me. This fight is about change. It is about good governance. It is about accountability. They do not like Rivers State. They hate us. We are losing. Tell me one thing that Rivers State has gained from being part of the South South under Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidency.”

The governor, who was elected on the ticket of the PDP but defected along with four other governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently also blamed Mrs. Jonathan for resuscitating militancy and kidnapping in the state.

“By the time the wife of President Jonathan brought out the militants, we had almost got to zero point of no kidnapping in Port Harcourt. Where we were witnessing kidnapping were villages near Bayelsa and Abia States. We were thinking of how to go there with military surge, to chase the criminals back to their bases,” he said.

He said his principled stand has earned him scorn from the First lady who, according to him, is bent on removing him from office using government power.

“She also held a Security Council meeting with them in Otuoke (President Jonathan’s hometown in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State), declaring that they would use federal ‘mighty’ (instead of might).But we have God Almighty.

“Is there any governor that has passed through what I passed through that is still alive? I am still talking as the Governor of Rivers State because there is God. They can use their federal ‘mighty,’ but I depend on the Almighty God.”

He said that President Jonathan has not helped matters by trying to under-develop Rivers at the expense of his (Jonathan’s) home state of Bayelsa.

He cited the Zonal Air Force originally earmarked for Rivers by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua but which was relocated to Bayelsa and the transfer of Soku oil wells to Bayelsa.

“The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company (on Bonny Island in Rivers State) is even the worst. The members of the board and management of the NLNG came to me and pleaded with me to speak with the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) to allow them to do Train Seven in Bonny, that will employ 10,000 Rivers people,” he said.

“I approached the NNPC and I went to the Petroleum Ministry. I do not want to call names, because most of them are my friends. They told me no. I thought it was a joke. That time, there was no quarrel between me and President Jonathan, because we had just finished elections (2011) and we were still chummy-chummy.

“I met with President Jonathan to kindly speak with officials of the NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry to allow NLNG to build Train Seven. President Jonathan said he wanted them to finish Brass LNG in his Bayelsa State, before they could build Bonny NLNG’s Train Seven. Mr. President said no and that he directed the officials of the NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry to say what they said.

“Mr. President said right from when he was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, he had been trying to get the Brass LNG and wants to get it now that he is the President. You cannot force investors. So, we must wait for Bayelsa State before Rivers State can grow.

“The implication is that Rivers State will not grow until Goodluck Jonathan finishes his Presidency. Is that a good government? Is that a good party? Should I remain there? If I was lying, they would have replied me. What is Southsouth President? There is only one thing in politics, which is interest. You cannot play politics of Nigeria with religion or ethnicity.”

He added: “They took Soku oil wells from us and they took 41 oil wells from Etche to Abia State. Should I remain in that kind of party that is denying Rivers State its resources?

“When I said they could not account for N2.3 trillion for oil subsidy, they said what is your source? I was in a meeting with President Jonathan. Nigerians never knew that governors went on strike for three months. We refused to collect our monthly allocations, because we told President Jonathan that under Yar’Adua late Umaru under Gen. Obasanjo (former President Olusegun), the total oil subsidy was N300 billion.

“The first year of President Goodluck Jonathan, in 2011, oil subsidy became N2.3 trillion. Did we buy more machines, more human beings in Nigeria, we had 24 hours power supply, things have changed in Nigeria, that we now consume N2.3 trillion from N300 billion?”

He also denied subverting the administration of a fellow Southsoutherner.

His words: “Who is a South South President? For me, a Southsouth President is the man who feels for me and cares.

“For them to be doing the East-West Road (from Oron in Akwa Ibom State, through Ogoniland in Rivers State to Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ogun States, terminating in Lagos State), I had to fight the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (Elder Godsday Orubebe).

“They said they would borrow money. They borrowed money and are now doing the East-West Road. The Southsouth President should have borrowed the money since 2011 that he came in and completed the East-West Road.

“Unfortunately, Yar’Adua is not alive to speak for himself. I was part of the people who sat down with Yar’Adua to start the designing of coastal rail from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ogun States, up to Lagos State. Have you heard of it again?”

He recalled a meeting he had with the late President Yar’Adua who, he said, asked what the Federal Government could do for Rivers State to stem militancy.

Amaechi said he suggested the provision of a skills’ acquisition centre and the then President proceeded to award contracts for the project to ‘prominent Rivers people’ only for President Jonathan, on replacing Yar’Adua, to sack the contractors.

The contracts, he added, were then re-awarded to other people.

“For four years, the Federal Government’s skills’ acquisition centre is yet to be completed. It is not about the contractor not working. They are not funding the contractor, because the project is in Rivers State,” he said.

Amaechi said that the PDP is fast drowning ahead of the 2015 elections.

According to him, more of PDP governors will defect to the APC and that the PDP could only win in 2015 by rigging.

He described the APC as the change agent Nigeria needs at this point in its history.

He said that by March 2014 the APC would have become the majority party in the Senate.

“Amaechi said, We are gradually forming government. We have taken over the House of Representatives. Before March (2014), we will take over the Senate. Just watch out.

“The pressure will mount so much that they (Senators) will move from the PDP into APC. For now, it is narrowing down closely everyday and we are counting. Watch out before March, if we will not have the number we are looking for.”

He dismissed the Nyesom Wike-led Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in the state as irrelevant and its members as hungry people.

Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education is the arrowhead of the opposition to Amaechi.

Amaechi said of the group: “I do not talk about those people who call themselves GDI. For me, they are not important, because that is not the fight. Those people do not even have the same agenda as the President. Their agenda is they cannot survive poverty.

“What they (GDI members) are trying to do is how to win Rivers State and share the money. They are not fighting for President Jonathan. What is driving them mad about Obio/Akpor LG Council? I did not know that individuals working in my government were sharing Obio/Akpor LG council’s money and they were not ashamed.”

He debunked reports that he had abandoned his wife, Judith, for another woman, saying: “I read a story that I impregnated Prof. Wole Soyinka’s (Nobel laureate’s) daughter. That she is living in my house and my wife has ran away. The story was bad. I had to call back my wife, so that they would know that she had not divorced me. She was not planning to do Christmas in Nigeria.

“She (Judith Amaechi) is back to see her husband, spend time with the husband, do some of her functions as wife of the governor, so that they will know that I am still married. Not just that I am still married, I am a Catholic.

“My marriage is as solid as a Catholic marriage. There is absolutely no room for divorce. What you have is room for annulment. There is only one ground for annulment of marriage in Catholic Church that is the marriage never took place. That means the woman either deceived him to marry her or the man deceived her into marrying him. Any other thing is called for better, for worse.”

The political camp of the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), said yesterday that it was wrong of Amaechi to refer to its members as hungry people.

Speaking on telephone from Lagos, the Secretary-General of the group, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, who doubles as the Rivers Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said the governor is confused and incapable of delivering the State to the APC in 2015.

He said: “It is not new to us that Amaechi is saying GDI members are hungry. Amaechi’s father was not the Managing Director of Shell or Agip or owner of any bank in Nigeria or West Africa. He is of a humble beginning.

“It baffles me whenever Amaechi says GDI members are hungry. It is unbecoming of a governor.

“Amaechi has lost control of Rivers State. It is unfortunate that Amaechi could describe PDP as chop-I-chop party. PDP made him Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and Rivers Governor. He is an ingrate. He is involved in anti-party activities.

“PDP is not a drowning party. Amaechi, now a member of the APC, cannot win any election in his Ubima Ward 8 (Ikwerre LGA). Amaechi is involved in a show of shame. Amaechi cannot deceive Rivers people.”

He said that Rivers State would never belong to the opposition, stressing that the PDP would continue to win the Niger Delta State.

December 29, 2013
Amaechi: I’ve never said I want to be president

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said yesterday in Port Harcourt that he had never told anybody he wanted to be president in 2015.

He noted that he was only fighting to change the situation in the country.

Amaechi, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), urged the military not to be involved in politics.

He enjoined them to remain neutral in the struggle by politicians for 2015, stressing that any involvement would have consequences.

The governor spoke when addressing legionnaires and representatives of the Service chiefs in the state, for the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, whose emblem appeal launch took place yesterday at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre.

The NGF chairman hailed the military for remaining neutral. He prayed that God would bless them for their decision to remain neutral in the country’s politics and advised the police to remain neutral too.

Said he: “I will join you to preach peace. You will see us fighting politically. Why we are fighting is because Nigeria is too big and too rich to remain the way we are. If anybody tells you we are not too big and too rich, the person is lying.

“We are too big and too rich not to be able to provide education for our children. We are too big and too rich not to be able to provide health for our children.

“They say I am fighting because I want to be President. I’ve never told anybody I want to be President. I am fighting just one cause: can we change the cause of Nigeria?

“If the naval officers were here, they would tell you about a ship that is directionless. We cannot continue that way. I am not saying the President is doing well or not doing well. I am talking about the entire political class.”

Amaechi also acknowledged the military’s contributions to unity and nation building. He urged them not to allow their contributions to collapse in the current political debate.

He said: “I will say to you (military men) today that all of you, both serving and retired, in one way or another, contributed to the unity of Nigeria and that you cannot afford to allow disunity.

“I have a very faint idea of what the civil war looked like, because I was born in 1965. My children do not have any idea whatsoever of what the civil war looked like and I do not want them to have any idea at all and God will not allow us to get involved in such a situation.”

The governor also lamented the absence of good leadership, security, water, power, health and other essential needs.

His words: “The greatest source of unity in a country is the military and you have suffered enough to fight for the unity of this country. Do not be involved in politics.”Nigeria is too complicated for the military to be involved in politics. Nigeria, as we are here, we have many ethnic groups. I tell people, I am not Ijaw, I am Ikwerre. There are people who are from Ijaw, there are Hausa, there are Yoruba, there are Isoko and there are Fulani.

“We are too many that if the military should get involved in politics, the consequences will be too much. We thank you for remaining neutral. God will bless you for remaining neutral.

“We urge the police to remain neutral, because the consequences of taking sides will be too much. 2015 is a watershed in the country. All of us seated here must contribute to peace in the country.”

The NGF chairman enjoined well-meaning compatriots to join the race for a better Nigeria.

He was decorated by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col. Philemon Chinda Omunakwe (rtd.), who lauded him for identifying with the Rivers legionnaires.

The event was attended by the representatives of Service chiefs, including Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu.

December 25, 2013
Amaechi seeks prayers for Nigeria

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has urged Christians to rededicate their lives to God and pray for the country during this Christmas celebration.

A statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr David Iyofor, also enjoined Christians to exhibit the virtues of Christ.

It said: “Let me congratulate our Christian brothers and sisters and as well encourage them to emulate Christ in all their dealings. We must, as a people under one God, seek God’s interference in our country’s democracy. We must see it as our duty to pray to God for the good of our dear country Nigeria, we must pray for our leaders and always pray to God to give us good leaders that can lead our dear country to greatness.”

The NGF chairman also advised Christians to reciprocate God’s love to their fellow Nigerians, despite their ethnic or religious affiliations.

“In a time like this, we must also shun religious bigotry and ethnic parochialism, and concentrate on the things, the values that unite us a country.

“For us as a government, we shall continue to use our God-given resources to develop Rivers State and improve the life of everybody resident in our state. “We are aware of the enormous challenges and distractions to make us lose focus, but we will continue to resist them and remain resolute in delivering the dividends of democracy to our people,” Amaechi said.

December 25, 2013
Amaechi: APC’ll protect Rivers people’s interests

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will protect the interests of the people.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), spoke at the inauguration of the Eleme Local Government chapter of a pressure group, the Save Rivers Movement (SRM), at the playground of the Community Secondary School, Alode-Eleme.

The event was also used for the defection of teeming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the area to the APC.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Tele Ikuru, noted that his defection to the main opposition party was to protest the refusal of the leadership of the PDP to protect the interests of Rivers people.

Amaechi said: “We will continue to move Rivers State forward. The people of Rivers State have a responsibility to protect themselves from outsiders and the vehicle to protect ourselves is the APC.

“As long as all of you are behind us, we will continue to do things that will bring prosperity to the state and make the people happy.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Magnus Ngei Abe, blamed the Presidency for the violation of the Constitution, especially the refusal of the Rivers Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu to take lawful directives from the governor, as stipulated in the constitution.

Abe said: “If you look at the Constitution of Nigeria, Section 215 says the commissioner of police of a state shall obey all lawful directives of the governor of the state. The problem in Rivers State is that, that section of the constitution is being perverted, subverted and violated by the people who are supposed to uphold it.

“Nobody should be calling the name of any minister, because no minister is seconded to Rivers State. No minister, even the Minister of Police Affairs, is on oath to upturn the Constitution of Nigeria.

“We know those who are upturning the Constitution of this country. We know those who are saying the Constitution should not be respected and should not be obeyed. They are the ones causing trouble in Rivers State.”

The senator also decried the refusal of the police to allow members of the Rivers House of Assembly to enter their offices.

He urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar to direct Mbu to obey the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the matter and to also take lawful directives from the governor.

Abe, who represents Rivers Southeast in the National Assembly, said: “As we speak, 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been trying to go to the House, but the police, without any authorisation from the governor, are refusing them entry and access to the Assembly.

“They (police) are saying they have not received a copy of the court judgment that said the Rivers State House of Assembly should be opened. Did they receive any court order before locking the Assembly complex?”

Abe, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, also urged the IGP to end the Rivers political crisis and allow the Assembly to resume, in the interest of the Rivers people.

The senator advised the IGP to direct Mbu to take lawful directives from the governor to ensure peace.

The Interim Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, assured that the party would recover all the oil wells belonging to the state, which were ceded to neighbouring states, when it assumes power in 2015.

The event was also attended by some members of House of Representatives supporting Amaechi. They included Chief Andrew Uchendu, Asita O. Asita; a former member of House of Representatives, Igo Aguma and the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Oji Ngofa.

December 17, 2013
$49.8b ‘missing’ oil money: Governors insist on probe

Sambo postpones NEC meeting

Vice-President Namadi Sambo shifted yesterday the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting fixed for tomorrow.

But governors are planning a meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) for tomorrow to demand answers to the nine posers they have raised on the state of the economy.

Consultations were on yesterday on the need for a emergency session of the NGF in Abuja.

The governors are likely to hold a briefing in Abuja after the NGF session.

They were determined to find out at the NEC session how about $49.8billion oil sales proceeds was not remitted to the Federation Account between January 2012 and July 2013. The governors may insist on a probe, it was learnt.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi raised the alarm over the “missing” fund in a memo to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The postponement of the meeting was contained in a notice titled “Cancellation of 9th (53rd) NEC meeting” from the secretariat in the Office of the Vice-President.

It reads: “Please, I am directed by the Vice-President and Chairman of the Council to inform Your Excellency that the NEC meeting scheduled for Thursday, 12th December 2013 has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.

“A new date will be communicated to you.”

No reason was given for the postponement. A source said the shift followed security reports on the likelihood of the governors creating a scene on the nine posers they raised for the Presidency to address.

A governor, who pleaded not to be named, said: “We have got a notice on the postponement of the NEC meeting due to unexplained unforeseen circumstances. We know that the shift was based on fears by the Presidency because certain matters on the state of the economy are now in the public domain.

“The revelation on the alleged diversion of $49.8billion from the sale of oil has caused more tension among the governors. For the CBN Governor to have confirmed that only 24 per cent of the revenue from oil proceeds was remitted into the Federation Account is scandalous.

“The issue at stake is beyond party leanings. We are all disturbed by this disclosure from the CBN Governor in a memo to the President.”

Another governor said: “Sambo was being “tactical” in shifting the meeting because President Goodluck Jonathan is away in South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s burial and he will not want the NEC meeting to degenerate to an embarrassing level for the government in the absence of the President.

“They are trying to device means of managing the situation in a manner that there would be a soft-landing bend for the Federal Government. We are however wiser than that,” he added.

The governors plan to meet on these nine issues and come up with a position on the state of the economy.

Another source said: “They can postpone NEC meeting; they cannot stop us from talking on how the economy is being run. Why will the Federal Government present 2014 Budget without consulting NEC? Why will NNPC not remit $49.8bilion oil proceeds and the government is keeping quiet?

“In 1980, we were talking of missing N2billion but now it is $49.8billion that cannot be traced. Someone needs to talk to the governors if we are truly practising Federalism.”

The posers raised are:

•Was $50billion oil money not remitted to the Federation Account? Where is the money?

•Is Nigeria broke or not;

•Why was the NEC consulted before the 2014 budget was presented to the National Assembly;

•How much has Nigeria earned from its oil sales in 2013 and what percentage of the budget is funded by these receipts?

•Is it really true that $5b is missing from Excess Crude Account

•How much oil does the country produce per day?

•Clarification that the benchmark price for oil in the 2013 budget is $79?

•Is it a fact that crude oil was sold at prices that hovered around $110 throughout the year?

December 11, 2013