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Tag: Rotimi Amaechi

  • Wike: I never betrayed Amaechi

    Wike: I never betrayed Amaechi

    The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on the protracted feud between him and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis and his 2015 governorship ambition. BISI OLANIYI was there.

    You and Governor Amaechi were very good friends. What went wrong?

    The Rivers State governor and I were not good friends. We worked together. Working together does not make you to be friends. I worked for him seriously.

    I cannot leave my party (the PDP). It is not done anywhere. If I quarreled with the governor, would that have been enough to make him to leave the same party that produced him? The Supreme Court said on October 25, 2007 that it was the party that won the election.

    I am not the issue. Am I trying to be President of Nigeria? Am I trying to be the Vice-President?

    What of your 2015 governorship ambition?

    So what? Who told you I would not want to be the President of Nigeria? You are a Christian and you want to go to heaven. Does it mean that you will go to heaven? If I say I want to be the Secretary-General of the United Nations, does it mean that I will be?

    When has ambition become a criminal offence? Assuming I want to be Rivers governor in 2015, so what? Is it because I want to be governor, that is why Amaechi is quarrelling with President Goodluck Jonathan? Governorship is an ambition.

    If you are working hard, people will suspect you. You are working hard because you want to be somewhere. If you do not want to work hard, they will say he is not intelligent. Is there anybody that was born to be governor? Are we running emirate system, where when the emir dies, they know who will be the next emir?

    Governor Amaechi and you are from Ikwerre. He wants his successor to come from another ethnic group or senatorial district. Don’t you believe in the zoning agreement?

    Zoning in which of the political parties? Amaechi ran on the PDP platform, while Dr. Abiye Sekibo, the former Transport Minister, ran on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). So, the PDP zoned it to where? The ACN zoned it to where? If it was the turn of Ikwerre people to run, why did the ACN produce a governorship candidate outside Ikwerre?

    Since Amaechi’s friend wants to be governor, then it is Ogoni turn. If I want to be the governor, it is Ikwerre turn. If Okrika person wants to be governor, it is Okrika turn. If you are from Opobo, it is Opobo turn. Such things do not intimidate me. If I want to run for the governorship of Rivers state, nothing will stop me.

     

    The situation is tense in Rivers State. Can the House of Assembly resume now?

    The police is also in a dilemma. Who presides between Bipi and Amachree/Kwanee? Is it for the police to decide who will preside? If the police envisage that there will be breakdown of law and order, they know what to do. The business of the police is to ensure that there is law and order.

    I watched on television, where Dakuku Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives from Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, decided to join the so-called lawmakers to sit on bare ground at the centre of Moscow Road (opposite the Rivers House of Assembly) in Port Harcourt. It is clear that he has taken sides and you want the members of the National Assembly to again take over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly.

    If Bipi says he is the speaker, you will challenge him in court. All they are doing now by sitting on the road is to go back to the National Assembly and say they are unable to sit, for their functions to still be taken over. Rivers people will resist it. We have resisted it before and we will continue to resist it.

    Amaechi has defected from the PDP to the APC. Are you not worried?

    For you to survive in life, you must take risk and overcome fear. I will never disappoint my supporters. Let nobody worry about what is happening. The PDP is one. Let us keep ourselves together. We will achieve what we intend to achieve.

    In the House of Assembly, there are pro and anti-Amaechi lawmakers. What do you have to say about the face-off?

    The truth of the matter is that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 11, gave a judgment. Prior to the judgment, there were issues in contention. Those who went to court, why did they go to court? What issues were raised?

    Those who went to court sued the National Assembly, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation. The National Assembly took over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly and they went to court to challenge it. I do know that, even when the members of the House of Representatives met on July 10, after the July 9 fracas, there was already a pending matter at the Federal High Court, even before the National Assembly took the decision.

    Nobody can stop the members of the National Assembly from performing their functions, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, but the way and manner the members of the National Assembly took over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, were they right?

    The Rivers State Government and the Rivers State House of Assembly were never sued. While the matter was going on, the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice (Worgu Boms) filed and joined. The so-called Speaker (Otelemaba Dan Amachree) and lawmakers supporting him, filed to join in the suit, led by Mr. Ahmed Raji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). They were never sued. The Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly were sued.

    When they joined, what did they do? For the first time in the history of this country, that the Attorney-General of a state said it was proper for the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The so-called Speaker said the National Assembly should take over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly.

    The same people who said they were unable to sit passed the supplementary budget that same day. If they passed the supplementary budget on July 9, how were they unable to sit?

    The House of Representatives immediately took over. The court said the way and manner you took over the functions were not in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. We know the National Assembly members have the right to take over the functions of the Rivers House of Assembly, but there are processes or procedures to follow, which they did not follow.

    What the Rivers governor wants to achieve now is that even if it means to sit at the gate of the House of Assembly, the lawmakers supporting him must sit and pass the budget.

    Is it not true that your group wants to impeach Amaechi at all costs?

    If you want to impeach, where is the Chief Judge? Will you not serve the governor a notice? Will the governor not reply you? If they raise allegations against the governor, he will respond within a specified time. If he responds and you feel that the response is not enough, the Chief Judge must set up a panel. Where is the Chief Judge to set up a panel? People are telling lies.

    Don’t you know how ex-Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye was impeached?

    In the case of Dariye, there was a chief judge. When the impeachment notice is served, a panel will be set up by the chief judge. If there is no chief judge, who will set up the panel? In Dariye’s case, the day the House of Assembly members met, was it the day he was impeached?

    We must face the reality. The court judgment was given on December 11. Have you seen the order? On December 12, they said they wanted to sit, but police did not allow them to sit. On December 12, were police served with the order? So, police would hear on radio or television.

    Even if police receive the order, there are contending factions. Evans Bipi (who represents Ogu/Bolo constituency) is the speaker. Amachree, who was impeached on July 9, following due process, is still claiming to be the speaker. Amachree is overseas, but his deputy (Leyii Kwanee) is saying he is the acting speaker and he and the so called lawmakers want to sit. What do you want the police to do? What is the business of the police to interpret the law on impeachment of a House officer?

    Is it possible for anybody to have sat? Bipi is speaker. Amaechree and Kwanee are saying they are the Speaker. What do you want police to do? What Amaechi wants is for the 2014 budget to be passed today and that is the end of the matter. He needs the money to spend by 2014.

    You and the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers, how do you intend to stop Governor Amaechi?

    Who tells you that Amaechi has 25 lawmakers on his side? We are talking about politics. Some people do not know how politics works. Who tells you that everybody who appears with you is with you? It is clear that what Amaechi wants is for the so-called lawmakers to pass the budget for him. That is why he asked them to go and sit inside Government House, Port Harcourt.

    How can the crisis in the Obio/Akpor Council be resolved?

    The Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra, declared the Chikordi Dike-led Caretaker Committee illegal and that nothing should be done again. That will affect the tenure of the Timothy Nsirim-led executive. Amaechi declared a one week holiday, claiming they were for Port Harcourt City Centenary Celebration, just to prevent the Obio/Akpor judgment from being delivered.

    Nigeria will do well, if we stand by the truth. Amaechi is a tyrant and he can be likened to Adolf Hitler. Amaechi is the worst tyrant I have ever known. If you do not know, know it now. I worked there at the Government House, Port Harcourt, as Chief of Staff. So, I can tell you. Amaechi is the only one that God wants to have an ambition. No other person can have an ambition. It is a criminal offence for you to have an ambition, but it is constitutional for Amaechi to have an ambition.

    The man the Supreme Court brought to power has refused to obey the court judgment.

    Let Amaechi go and remove Nsirim. What he is doing is because he wants to seize the money. They are signing Obio/Akpor cheques outside the council secretariat. Those who are doing that should be ready to sew their prison uniforms. Where are they sitting to work to sign cheques? They will go somewhere to sign cheques and say that the governor told them. No problem, go ahead, because that same governor will not be there.

    Amaechi feels he can buy over everybody. He has seen it now.

    You have just said that Governor Amaechi is a tyrant. But people say you have betrayed the governor who recommended you to President Goodluck Jonathan for a ministerial appointment. Can you be trusted?

    When Amaechi was in Ghana, I had everything in my hands to betray him. Go and ask Celestine Omehia what he offered me. How many commissioners I was asked to bring? I said no.

    Go and ask Amaechi what he said at the St. Peters Anglican Church, Rumueprikom, Port Harcourt, when he said Nyesom Wike is a man of character; you can go home and sleep, if he is with you. When did betrayal come in? My local government got the highest votes. What vote did he get in during governorship poll? Everybody, including Magnus Abe, also a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, was always in my house, asking me how it would be. It is not in my character to betray people.

    There is nobody who is working with Amaechi that I do not know. There is none of them that can talk face to face with me. Tony Okocha was the Obio/Akpor LG chairman. He was in the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), when I became the chairman. Because he is from my ethnic clan, I decided to play politics of inclusion and I brought everybody together to work as a team after my election. Okocha worked with the late Eric Asoh.

    That Amaechi made me the Chief of Staff, no. I had choice, to choose where and what. I was the man whom God used. I will not take the glory of God. Amaechi was in Ghana. I had the choice to be the commissioner of finance. I said I would not take. All those who are now talking as commissioners were coming around me and asking of what to do to be made commissioners.

    When Amaechi was in Ghana, ask him what he was calling me. I was taking final decisions. When he won the case, he felt he had become God, no problem. How did Amaechi make me minister? Which recommendation? Your Chief of Staff and Director-General of your campaign organisation was made a minister of state. People forget that there is tomorrow. The problem is that Amaechi underrated me. That is what he is suffering now.

    Amaechi is the former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). He has power. If Amaechi had the party structure, would he have run away from the PDP? Let us go to the field for elections.

    Since I left their government, what has happened? Who is the person who is thinking now? If I was there, would anybody have challenged Amaechi? Will he be having this type of problem? He is now asking lawmakers to go and sit on the road.

    Amaechi will say he has built roads for N100 billion and that the Federal Government has not paid him. Ask Amaechi, if you oppose him in Rivers state, does he pay your money? All those who are opposing Amaechi, ask them, if he has paid them their monies. He said he would not pay them stating that they would use the funds to fight him. After Amaechi abuses President Jonathan from morning till night, he should now sign for you. Nobody has even audited what he (Amaechi) claimed to have spent on the Federal Government projects in Rivers State.

    What you are seeing in Rivers State is that Amaechi has lost touch. APC cannot win Rivers state.

    In 2015, let us go for elections. Let Amaechi perform his magic. Whether they like it or not, Rivers will be a PDP state.

  • Soyinka gathers poets, activists for Mandela

    Soyinka gathers poets, activists for Mandela

    Prior to the interment of the late South African President, Nelson Mandela, at a private ceremony in Qunu, his country home, on Sunday, the Nigerian art community last Friday took time out to celebrate the memories of the late freedom fighter.

    Led by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, it was an assemblage of political activists, public commentators and literary figures, who are noted for their undaunted campaigns for good governance.

    The passing of the South African icon provided yet another opportunity to mirror the unique place of sacrifice in leadership. Through thought-provoking poems, musicals and dance drama, the crowd, at the Freedom Park, venue of the Lagos Tribute, savoured with great interest, the eulogies on an extraordinary mortal.

    Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, excited the crowd, performing with his Positive Force Band. His show at the event was complemented by other groups, including the Lagos City Chorale, Crown Troupes of Africa and the Black Image Theatre, among others.

    High-ranking Nigerians at the event included the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his counterpart from Rivers State, Honourable Rotimi Amaechi; Consulate General of the South Africa, Lulu Louis Mnguni; Director-General, Centre for Black Arts and African Civilisation, CBAAC, Professor Tunde Babawale; Barrister Femi Falana; Professor J.P Clark; President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Joe Odumakin; Professor Kole Omotosho and literary guru, Odia Ofeimun, among others.

    Soyinka’s poem, No, I Say, was a rendition that highlighted selflessness, courage and sacrifice, dwelling on Mandela’s refusal to trade his incarceration for freedom at the expense of other activists who were serving in other prisons. The poem explains how Mandela refused to accept some negotiations, in spite of how some African leaders had pressed him into accepting conditions for his release.

    Governor Amaechi launched a direct one on the political situation in Nigeria, asking for a common rise against corruption and corrupt leaders.

    “You heard about $50 billion, but nobody is talking. In some countries, people will be on the streets. If you don’t take your destiny in your hand, we, leaders, will continue to steal. It is because you have stoned nobody that we are stealing,” Amaechi said, with reference to the money said to be missing from the Excess Crude Account.

    Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Ofeimum urged Nigerians to join hands by wrestling corrupt leadership as a way of returning the country to its past glory. His rendition, through a dance drama, A feast of return, complemented his thoughts on the issue. One would have thought that his position was pre-planned to meet the governor’s query.

    Known for his elevated literary style on political matters, Governor Aregbesola noted that Mandela was not only the symbol of the struggle, but an individual who defined the trajectory of his country.

    He took his peg from the rare spirit of forgiveness, which Mandela preached after his release. He described Mandela’s ingenuity as an “unsurpassable grace and that he (Mandela) brought no baggage of malice from prison. And he still forgave his jailers.”

    Everybody who spoke at the event left no one in doubt of the virtuous life of Mandela, hinging their thoughts on the need to immortalize him by emulating his legacy.

    Apparently impressed by the gathering and all that was said about his countryman, Mnguni thanked the organizers, while also noting that “We have lost a giant and we are going to miss him visiting the sick, old people’s homes, orphanages and home of abandoned children. We are going to miss that voice that preaches reconciliation, respect for fellow men and peace.

     

  • Amaechi: APC’ll protect Rivers people’s interests

    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.

  • Dawn ‘impeachment’ drama in Rivers

    Dawn ‘impeachment’ drama in Rivers

    •APC warns against move by anti-Amaechi lawmakers to sit at PDP secretariat

    There was a mild drama yesterday morning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over a plot to impeach Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Supporters of the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, gathered at 5:30 am at the Marine Base Junction, near the House of Assembly. They were confronted by the governor’s loyalists.

    Their early morning mobilisation was to enable the six anti-Amaechi lawmakers to sit at 6am in the chambers to begin impeachment proceedings against Amaechi.

    The Wike supporters and Amaechi loyalists, who mobilised to the Marine Base Junction, were mostly from Okrika, the hometown of Dame Patience, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan and the ex-leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, Ateke Tom.

    Initially, Amaechi’s supporters were always gathering around the Workers’ Square, near the main gate of the state secretariat, while the youth backing Wike would assemble in front of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, with the barricaded House of Assembly in the middle.

    It became difficult for Wike’s supporters to access the main gate of the Assembly, thereby changing strategy, by moving to Marine Base Junction, but they were surprisingly confronted by thousands of Amaechi’s loyalists.

    It was learnt in Port Harcourt last night that the self-acclaimed Speaker Evans Bipi, who represents Ogu/Bolo Constituency and the five other lawmakers would sit at 6am today.

    Investigation also showed that attempts were being made to induce the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers with millions.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State yesterday warned the anti-Amaechi lawmakers against their plan to sit at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remove Amaechi.

    The main opposition party, through the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, to the Interim State Chairman, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, described the information on the planned sitting at the PDP’s secretariat as credible.

     

    APC said: “This warning is necessitated by the credible information at our disposal, to the effect that this inconsequential minority in a state House of Assembly of 32 members, after failing this (yesterday) morning to be smuggled into the state House of Assembly by some hoodlums.”

    “The hoodlums will be dressed in police uniform by 6 am, through the Eastern By-pass and guided by some Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) (with Wike as grand patron) officials, has changed their line of action, by concluding to sit at the Rivers State PDP Secretariat within the week, starting from 17th December, 2013 to impeach the Governor and announce the self-proclaimed Speaker, Hon. Evans Bipi, as the acting Governor of the State.

    “The imaginary crimes would be used as an excuse by the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) to arrest Governor Amaechi. The resort to sitting at the PDP Secretariat, we understand, is occasioned by the failure of the rebel lawmakers to gain access to the State House of Assembly, to which the police have also denied the majority 25 lawmakers access.”

    The APC chairman also admonished the supervising minister of education to reflect on the good deeds of Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), towards him and allow peace to prevail in Rivers state, in the interest of the common man and the development of the state.

  • Rivers crisis: Amaechi is paying for underrating me, says Wike

    Rivers crisis: Amaechi is paying for underrating me, says Wike

    •The people will resist take- over of Rivers Assembly by NASS

    •Wike has track record of betrayal; he is confused, Amaechi

    THE Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said yesterday that Governor Rotimi Amaechi with whom he is currently locked in a bitter battle for the soul of the state is paying the price of underrating him.

    Wike, the arrowhead of the opposition to the governor, described Amaechi as a tyrant who does not take kindly to those with ambition.

    He spoke in an interview in Port Harcourt against the backdrop of last Wednesday’s court ruling nullifying the take-over of the functions of the State House of Assembly by the National Assembly and attempts by members of the State Assembly on both sides of the divide to return to the complex.

    The Police dispersed the assemblymen and their supporters on Thursday and Friday as they gathered to gain entry into the building.

    Wike, a former Chief of Staff to Amaechi, is widely believed to be nursing an ambition to succeed the governor in 2015. He is also believed to be favoured by the presidency which is fighting its own battle with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

    The National Assembly has signified its intention to appeal the court’s decision, but Wike declared yesterday that the people of the state would resist further move by the National Assembly to take over the running of the state assembly.

    He also vowed that nothing could stop him should he decide to contest the 2015 governorship election in the state.

    He dismissed suggestions that he betrayed Amaechi who made him chief of staff.

    He said that as far as the governor is concerned it is a criminal offence to have an ambition.

    But responding to Wike’s tirade against Amaechi, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, said the minister is confused and lacks the qualities required to govern the state.

    “Rivers people will not allow Wike to be governor of the state, after enjoying good governance from Governor Amaechi,” he said.

    “It is not true that Governor Amaechi is a tyrant. Decisions are always taken by the Rivers State Executive Council. Rivers Governor gave Wike a free hand as the Chief of Staff and recommended him to be minister. It is shocking that the governor has suddenly become a tyrant.

    “Governor Amaechi knew that Wike was a mischief-maker, but tried to manage him. The people of Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State rejected Wike, when he was seeking re-election as Council Chairman because of his disrespect for elders and constituted authority, but Governor Amaechi intervened and saved his political career.”

    The Chief of Staff said that Wike is angry with the governor for asking him to drop his senatorial ambition in 2011 in favour of Senator George Thomson Sekibo.

    He said that the crisis in the State House of Assembly is an ill-wind that would blow no one any good and asked the people of the state to continue to embrace peace.

    Wike also said: “When has nursing ambition become a criminal offence? Assuming I want to be Rivers governor in 2015, so what? Is it because I want to be governor, that is why you (Amaechi) will leave the party and tell Rivers people lies?

    “Is it because I want to be governor that is why Amaechi is quarrelling with President Goodluck Jonathan? Governorship is an ambition. If I want to run for governorship of Rivers state, nothing will stop me. Who told you I would not want to be the president of Nigeria?

    “Nigeria will do well, if we stand by the truth. Amaechi is a tyrant and he can be likened to Adolf Hitler. Amaechi is the worst tyrant I have ever known. If you do not know, know it now. I worked there (in Government House, Port Harcourt as Chief of Staff). So, I can tell you.

    “Amaechi is the only one that God wants to have an ambition. No other person can have an ambition. It is a criminal offence for you to have an ambition, but it is constitutional for Amaechi to have an ambition.”

    The supervising minister of education also stated that it was not true that the six lawmakers supporting him in Rivers House of Assembly were plotting to impeach the Rivers governor. He said that without a chief judge, impeachment could not be carried out.

    He added: “The Rivers governor and I were not good friends. We worked together. Working together does not make you to be friends. I worked for him seriously.

    “With the circumstances at that time, if they happen now, I will still work for him. The circumstances at that time, because at every giving point in life, there are circumstances that will influence you to do one thing or another.”

  • ‘Amaechi on rescue mission in APC’

    ‘Amaechi on rescue mission in APC’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Dakuku Peterside spoke with Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi on the defection of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other issues.

    Recently Governor Rotimi Amaechi defected to All Progressive Congress (APC). What in your reaction?

    You need to understand the issues to understand, if the move is justified or not. There are two strands of the issue. The first has to do with the direction the country is going and the second is the interest and aspiration of Rivers people within the context of Nigeria. In recent times, there is anxiety in the country about the insecurity, rising wave of corruption, impunity and retarded growth, generally, and many patriots are concerned. All these concerns are linked to the quality of leadership of the country and the political party that plays the role of a facilitator, like in other democracies. Unfortunately, it appears the leadership of the country is not sensitive enough to the need to urgently tackle these issues and the party that is in power at the centre, by its conduct and lack of internal democracy in all facets, is aggravating the matter. The party, in this case, the PDP, does not respect its rules, does not accommodate divergent opinions and it has made no effort to harness the collective ideas and energies of its members. The result is what we are seeing today. The second strand of the crisis is the corporate interest of Rivers State, which is under serious threat.

    How is the interest of Rivers State under threat and how does that justify the defection of Governor Amaechi to another party?

    Politics, as you know, is a means of allocating resources. Parties are vehicles through which politics is played to optimise the benefit for the people. Parties to a reasonable extent determine outcomes in a political process. The scenario is this; PDP as a political party superintends over the expropriation of Rivers common wealth, I mean our resources, deny us even the least benefit for our modest contributions and does nothing to advance our development in anyway. Only a man who is pursuing his own selfish interest will remain in such a platform, to the detriment of the people you are on oath to serve. Can anybody point to one federal project of worth going on in Rivers State under the present administration? Even, the blind can see that there is a calculated attempt to undermine the interest of Rivers State. No principled leader who has the interest of the people at heart will stomach that at the alter of regional sentiments.

    Is the denial of Rivers State development benefits the reason why the governor moved to another party?

    Yes, among many other reasons. You see, people have different reasons and different incentives for being in politics. Some are in politics to make as much personal wealth as possible through the instrumentality of power. Others want to serve the people and transform their socio-economic status and yet, others to cause confusion and derive joy from the confusion. These different reasons determine the choices we make. By now, it is obvious to the least discerning that the likes of Governor Amaechi are in power and politics for the higher interest of the people. This compelling interest will not allow him fold his hands and allow the wealth of Rivers people be expropriated under his watch, their rights and entitlements trampled upon and the people treated as if they do not matter. If Governor Amaechi has kept quiet, history would have been most unkind to him. For standing up for Rivers people and their collective aspiration, history will celebrate him.

    Is there no better way of going about it than this present approach?

    There are always many ways to pursue a course, but that does not change the fact that there is an injury or that there is an attempt to compromise the interest of Rivers State or that the PDP has been most unfair to Rivers State. Nobody is addressing the root or causative factors of the crisis. Rather, we are concerned with the ceremonials. Nobody has said that the PDP has served the interest of Rivers State or that the government at the centre has been fair to Rivers State. Even, those who appear superficially to be supporting the Government at the centre all the time say to me – this Government has been most unfair to Rivers State. I have heard this consistently and it is nauseating how unprincipled our politicians can be.

    The picture we have is that heavy weight politicians in Rivers State are not with him because of the perception that he is pursuing his own ambition?

    This is a deliberate attempt to disinform the populace. I am sure that propaganda is being spread by some selfish politicians that have lost touch with the reality in Rivers State I can beat my chest and say that the majority of principled politicians in Rivers State, who means well for the state, are with Governor Amaechi because they know he is fighting for the interest of Rivers state. It is unfortunate that in this clime, politics is an enterprise that is not governed by principles but by opportunistic selfish tendency. In many cases, opportunistic men thrive at the expense of the general good, but the people are now wiser. They know the difference between “stomach infrastructure politicians” and those who genuinely want to change society for good. Very often, the intelligence, determination and courage of our people are underrated. Rivers people are solidly behind Governor Amaechi. One way of measuring the support base is the number of elected officials with the governor and his capacity for resilience. Another will be the result of the forthcoming elections after the whole noise.

  • Prince Tonye Princewill at a crossroads

    Prince Tonye Princewill at a crossroads

    The talk in town at the moment is the decision of Rivers political bigwig, Prince Tonye Princewill, to declare support for President Goodluck Jonathan and his hesitation in quitting the PDP even after Governor Rotimi Amaechi had bid farewell to the ruling party.

    It will be recalled that in 2007, he ran for governorship on the platform of the now defunct Action Congress. In the build-up to the 2011 governorship election in Rivers State, he had deployed his political machinery, Princewill Political Associates, to campaign for Governor Amaechi’s re-election.

    But political observers believe that he is currently in a quandary as to the political path he would follow, considering that the Presidency may throw its weight behind Nyeson Wike in the 2015 governorship election.

  • Anxiety over plot to declare Amaechi, Wammako, others’ seats vacant

    Anxiety over plot to declare Amaechi, Wammako, others’ seats vacant

    Desperate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders renewed yesterday their push for the removal of the five governors who dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The plan is to use the court to declare vacant their seat, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The governors are Rotimi Amaechi(Rivers), Murtala Nyako(Adamawa), Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano), Aliyu Wammako(Sokoto) and Abdulfatai Ahmed(Kwara).

    The hawks in PDP are said to be considering filing an ex-parte motion at any high court which will lead to a declaratory order asking the governors to leave office immediately.

    But President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have asked the PDP leaders behind the plot to pull the brakes on it because of its likely consequences on the nation’s political environment.

    One of the lawyers engaged in filing the suit last night however said: “We have not yet filed any document in court.

    “I think the President has not agreed with the PDP leaders who are pushing the matter. The President has asked them to stay action.”

    It was learnt that some PDP leaders were shocked by the threat which the defection last Tuesday might pose to the PDP’s electoral fortunes.

    They were said to have agreed on creating legal hurdles for the governors.

    It was learnt that the party has already secured the services of a 10-man legal team, including Chief Alex Iziyon (SAN), who is more or less the counsel to the President; Phebian Ajogu (SAN), Austin Alegeh (SAN) and a Northern constitutional Lawyer.

    A source said: “We learnt that the PDP is either considering filing a motion ex-parte or pushing for accelerated hearing of its application.

    “But some leaders of the party are in favour of a motion ex-parte. Once the application is granted, the five governors will be asked to vacate office immediately or be ejected from office.

    “In fact, the PDP is banking on the invocation of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution to support its application. This Section was invoked by the Supreme Court to declare Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State.

    “The party is claiming that the governorship tickets of the five governors belong to the PDP and not the occupants.

    “Also, we learnt that the party might apply the principle of ‘Case Stated’ to compel a Federal High Court to ask for interpretations of Section 221 from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to seal the fate of the governors at the lower court.”

    As at press time, a meeting of the APC governors was being convened at Kano Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro District, Abuja.

    The session, expected to be closed door from 9pm, might go far into the night.

    One of the APC governors , who spoke in confidence, said: “This is our first meeting after five PDP governors joined the progressives club. We are going to chart the way forward for the party to make the merger of the New PDP and the APC to work.

    “We will also take time to discuss issues affecting our governors, including plans by the PDP to declare the seats of the five governors vacant.

    “The PDP is capable of any mischief; we are also going to put our legal team on standby.”

    The National Chairman of the merged New PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said: “There is no law backing the declaration of a governor’s seat vacant.

    “Why are they just talking now when some PDP governors have joined the APC? I was the one who received ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim when he defected from PPA to PDP. Was Ohakim’s seat declared vacant? Wasn’t Governor Isa Yuguda in ANPP before joining PDP? What of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State who defected to PDP from PPA. Did all these governors vacate their seats?

    “This is not the first time the PDP has tried to declare the seats of our members vacant. Some of our members in the National Assembly have actually sued Bamanga Tukur.”

    Another leader said the conditions for removing governors are contained in Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Section 188 reads in part: “A governor can be removed by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or removal in accordance with Section 188 or 189 of this Constitution.”

    Section 188 says in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.

    “Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third member of the members of the House of Assembly is (a) presented to the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the State; (b) stating the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified.

    Section 189 says in part: “The Governor or Deputy Governor of a State shall cease to hold office if (a) by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of all members of the Executive Council of the state, it is declared that the Governor or Deputy Governor is incapable of discharging the functions of his office; and (b) the declaration in paragraph (a) of this sub-section is verified, after such medical examination as may be necessary, by a medical panel established under subsection (4) of this section in its report to the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”

  • I’m not your problem, Okonjo-Iweala tells Amaechi

    I’m not your problem, Okonjo-Iweala tells Amaechi

    Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has told Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to look in the mirror, if he wants to identify the source of his problems.

    Responding to the claims that she is responsible for the delay in the approval of the state’s water project by the African Development Bank, the minister yesterday fired back at the governor, saying that “it is sad that a governor can engage in this kind of undignified charade.

    “The question that fair minded people must ask is Amaechi the only governor the ministry deals with? Why is he the only one negatively obsessed with Okonjo-Iweala?

    “The ministry has a good relationship with many governors and deals with issues concerning their states based on professionalism and equity.”

    The governor’s statement that she is responsible for the delay of the water project “is a complete fabrication.”

    “As the ministry had previously explained, the project is going through the processes and must get final approval from the ADB board and the Federal Executive Council before I can sign it. So the idea that I have refused to sign it is preposterous and inaccurate.”

  • Amaechi, Rivers PDP in war of words over LG dissolution

    Amaechi, Rivers PDP in war of words over LG dissolution

    * It’s a mere threat-PDP factional chairman

    The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said at the weekend in Port Harcourt that Thursday’s dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government in Rivers State by Governor Rotimi Amaechi would not stand.

    The PDP chieftain vowed that the governor’s action would be resisted by all means.

    The minister who is from the local government area and the political godfather of the sacked council chairman, Mr. Timothy Nsirim and his councillors issued the threat on arrival in the state capital ahead of a rally today by the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) at Ogu, headquarters of the Ogu/Bolo LGA of Rivers State.

    The State Chairman of the PDP Chief Felix Obuah, also declared yesterday in Port Harcourt that the party would stand by Nsirim and stick to Monday’s judgment of the State High Court which proclaimed Nsirim as chairman of the council.

    Obuah claimed that the Rivers governor had no right to dissolve the Obio/Akpor LG council.

    However, the Godspower Ake-led faction of the PDP in the state dismissed the threats by Wike and Obuah as empty boasts.

    The Publicity Secretary of the faction, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, said: “The drums of war being beaten by Wike and Obuah are mere threats. Both of them should know that Rivers State belongs to all of us and that the office of the Governor must be respected.

    “The Supervising Minister of Education has enough problems that have bedevilled his ministry, which he needs to tackle in Abuja, especially the strike by the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), since July 1. Why is Wike wasting time in an already-settled matter that has come to stay?”

    Wike said: “We will resist it to the highest level. We have passed the stage where you can intimidate anybody. Nsirim remains the Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG council. He (Nsirim) will continue working. If he (Amaechi) wants to personally come to stop him, we will also march down there.”