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Tag: Rotimi Amaechi

  • Amaechi is a traitor and will be treated as such –Asari-Dokubo

    Amaechi is a traitor and will be treated as such –Asari-Dokubo

    • ‘No! I’m not. Our rivals are bad losers’ – Amaechi

    • Obio/Akpor LG secretariat: No going back on workers’ warning strike – Rivers labour leaders

    Former militant and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, yesterday described Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as a traitor to the cause of the Niger Delta by seeking re-election as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    Many supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan including Asari-Dokubo regard Amaechi’s decision to contest the election which he won as a slight on the President.

    Asari-Dokubo, speaking on a phone-in radio programme in Port Harcourt, accused the governor of confronting the President, a fellow Niger Delta citizen and working against his interest for s second term in office in 2015.

    He declared that the re-elected chairman of the NGF (Amaechi) would be treated like a traitor, having been confronting President Jonathan, his kinsman from the Niger Delta, who wants to seek re-election in 2015.

    But the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda, dismissed Asari-Dokubo’s claim and said opponents of the governors are bad losers.

    Chinda said it is Asari-Dokubo and a few others who are creating problems between President Jonathan and the Rivers governor for their selfish interests.

    The former militant said of the governor: “Amaechi and his ambition must be tied to the ambition of his people. In Kano, Amaechi said he would run as vice-president, if invited. I speak with all sense of responsibility. The oppressed people of the Niger Delta, through President Jonathan, will win in 2015. We will win clearly and convincingly.

    “Amaechi is a traitor and he will be treated like a traitor. Amaechi is not more Ikwerre than me. It is about liberty to rule. Amaechi wants to take us back to slavery. It will not be possible. The era of Northern godfathers is gone.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan will win in 2015. If they do not allow him to win, they will not be able to handle the consequences. End must come to the suppression, oppression, repression and marginalisation of the people of the Niger Delta.”

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Dr. Chris Oruge, and his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart, Chika Onuegbu, have declared that there is no going back on the workers’ two-day warning strike from tomorrow.

    The strike is to back up the workers’ demand for the withdrawal of policemen occupying the secretariat of Obio/Akpor Local Government of the state as fallout of the crisis rocking the PDP in the state.

    A high court has also ordered the police to vacate the premises.

    The labour leaders said the police action is obstructing their members from earning their daily bread.

    They said: “We (labour leaders) have no business with politics. We are focusing on the rights and privileges of the workers. We do not want police of occupation and dictatorship. Police also have no power to ban peaceful demonstrations and protests. They should not drag labour into political crisis.”

  • Falana greets Amaechi

    Lagos based lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State “deserves commendation for his re-election as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum.” He said his “victory is a clear affirmation of the confidence of the majority of the governors in the leadership of their Chairman. It is hoped that Mr Amaechi will accept the renewed call to service as a challenge to lead the forum to address the increasing wave of poverty, unemployment, insecurity of life and property in the land.”

    Falana called on the governors to close ranks and work with President Goodluck Jonathan to restore law and order in all parts of the country. He however, expressed regrets that “some of the governors who contested and voted in the election have decided to embarrass themselves by challenging the integrity of the exercise.”

    He dismissed as “childish” the excuse by some of the governors that Amaschi did not step down as chairman before the election asking, “They claim that the election was vitiated because Governor Amaechi did not step down before the race. Did any of the governors who recontested elections and won in their states step down before the elections were conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission?”

    He is of the view that the election was in compliance with the Electoral Act.

  • Governors to hold ‘Share Fair’ for South West

    Governors to hold ‘Share Fair’ for South West

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has concluded plans to hold its second Governance Share Fair for South West states.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the fair is being organised by the NGF in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC).

    A source told NAN that the fair, slated to take place in Lagos between May 15 and May 16, is a knowledge sharing and learning event designed to help states benefit from their experiences.

    The event, which is packed with presentations, discussions and opportunities to meet and mingle with state counterparts, is also expected to stimulate interest in future collaboration and development of new programmes in states.

    Participating states are expected to make presentations on various areas of governance reform and share same through extensive interactions and deliberations.

    The governance share fair is expected to be attended by all South West governors with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as the host.

    State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Directors from participating states will also attend the event.

    The NGF Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, will declare the event open while each of the participating states will have a stand in the information market place to show case their achievements.

     

  • Insecurity: Governors oppose state of emergency rule

    Governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday urged the Federal Government to ignore calls for declaration of state of emergency rule in states recently engulfed by violence.

     They however condemned the recent killings of security personnel and civilians in  Nasarawa, Benue, Borno, Adamawa and other affected northern states.
    In a statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of NGF and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, the governors pointed out that those pushing for state of emergency rule do not wish Nigeria well and want to plunge the country into deeper crisis.
    While stating that violence can never be a solution to any problem, they urged the security agencies in the country to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible.
    The statement reads: “We urge the Federal Government to continue to support affected states in the bid to check violence. The Federal Government should remain focused and continue to provide leadership until every part of Nigeria is rid of violence and insurgency.”“We also call on the Federal Government to ignore the ongoing agitation for a state of emergency in some parts of the country. These requests are being made by people who do not wish our country well and who are bent on plunging the country into a deeper crisis.”

    “The Federal Government should not allow itself to be distracted from our collective goal of curbing the insurgency in some parts of our country once and for all.”
    He went on: “We in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) hereby condemn the recent violence and killings in some parts of our country – Borno, Nasarawa, Benue, Adamawa and some other states. We also commiserate with the people and government of those states, our security agencies and the families of the victims and pray God to give them and indeed every Nigerian the fortitude to bear the loss.”“While urging security agencies to continue to do their jobs as professionally as possible, we appeal to all aggrieved individuals and groups in Nigeria to appreciate the fact that violence can never be a solution to any problem. We have no other country to call home and it is important that we understand the danger and futility of destroying our land in the pursuit of a selfish agenda.”

    “It is gratifying that government – Federal and State – are working hard to get to the root of the killings and nip these orgy of violence in the bud. We are impressed by the magnanimity of the Federal Government, which has demonstrated an uncommon love for the country by setting up a Committee to explore the possibilities of granting amnesty to the members of the Boko Haram sect.”

    “It is also a good step that government has agreed to cooperate fully with the National Human Rights Commission in the investigation of the killings in Baga.”
    “We also commend our security agencies for the selfless sacrifice they are making in the interest of us all to restore calm to all parts of our country.” He added
  • Rivers’ crisis: Why they are after me – Amaechi

    Rivers’ crisis: Why they are after me – Amaechi

    The embattled Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, who has been somewhat taciturn since crisis started rocking the the Peoples Democratic Party in the state has at last opened up on the reason the battle is raging.

    Amaechi, who spoke at the weekend when the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Rt. Rev (Dr) Camillus Etokudoh led over a hundred Catholic Priests on a prayer session in Government House, Port Harcourt, said he is being witch-hunted by the powers that be because of his intention to re-contest the chairmanship position of Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

    The governor, who is also Papal Knight of St Sylvester in Catholic Church, therefore told the Catholic Clergy that, “I want you to pray for me on the forthcoming NGF’s election. The reason for the present crisis rocking the state is because I indicated interest to re-contest for the election. I know that after the election the crisis will come to an end. Please pray for me because I must seek re-election.”

    Amaechi, who threatened last week to expose those behind the crisis, also said he cannot be intimidated by anybody and vowed that he will seek re-election in the NGF’s election.

    He also stated that the present crisis in the state is being orchestrated by “some powerful forces to intimidate and frighten him out of the race” and vowed that there is no going back in his decision to seek re-election.

    Earlier in his homily, Etokudoh, who led the Catholic Priests in the pray session prayed that God will see the governor through in his present challenges.

     

  • Rivers PDP Chair suspends Speaker, 26 lawmakers

    The new Rivers Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Felix Obuah, has suspended 27 of the 32 members of the state assembly from the party, including the speaker, for insubordination.

    Obuah announced the suspension to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, saying the members did not comply with the party’s directive on dissolution of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on April 22, the assembly suspended the Obio/Akpor Council chairman, his deputy and the 17 councillors for alleged reckless spending of public funds.

    The assembly said that the allegations were made by the Obio/Akpor stakeholders from the 17 wards of the local government area.

    It explained that the petition was weighty and required a thorough investigation which would require the suspension of the accused for proper investigation to take place.

    The assembly said that the suspension was pending the outcome of the investigation.

    The party chairman said that the party issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the assembly to rescind the order on dissolution of the Obio/Akpor council but “it was flagrantly disobeyed.’’

    Obuah said:  “the party hereby suspended all the 27 members of the House of Assembly that carried out such action while their matter is referred to Disciplinary Committee for further action.’’

    On the grounding of the Rivers Government aircraft, the chairman said that the party “views with grave concern the unfolding facts surrounding the ownership of the purported aircraft“.

    Obuah said that the party would not fold its arms and allow “monumental“ fraud to be perpetrated in the state.

    He alleged that from the records available and statements credited to the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the aircraft was not bought by the government.

    Obuah said the records showed that the Aircraft Bombardier B.D 700, Global Express aircraft with registration No. 5N5N65 RS, was owned by Utah Limited States of America.

    He said that the aircraft registration showed that it was owned by Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah Limited States of America.

    The chairman said that the aircraft was operated illegally as its clearance approval expired on April 2 and had since been operating in violation of the rules of civil aviation authorities.

    “It is unacceptable and embarrassing to our great party that public funds are hopelessly mismanaged; as a result these questions must be answered by the Rivers State Government.

    “Where is the aircraft, purportedly bought with the Rivers State funds and tax payers’ money?

    “Where have the billions of naira taken from the coffers of the Rivers State Government gone to and for what purpose was it appropriated and where is it diverted?“ Obuah asked.

    He said the state government should give a copious explanation concerning the  funds spent on the aircraft or  face disciplinary action from the party.

    Obuah said that the PDP government led by President Goodluck Jonathan had zero tolerance for corruption and that the state PDP would also not condone such .

    He, however, directed all party members in the state to be totally loyal to the new state executive council and warned that the party would not hesitate to deal with deviants.

    Obuah warned members of the party to refrain from making unsavory and unguarded utterances that were inimical to peace and development in the party. (NAN)

  • Wike is an ingrate, say Amaechi’s associates

    Wike is an ingrate, say Amaechi’s associates

    •Amaechi’s supporters are frustrated, Obuah remains Rivers PDP chair – Wike

    Two associates of the Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, have described the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, as an ingrate for dumping the governor.

    Emma Chinda, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture and Victor Amadi, a member of the state House of Assembly, representing Etche I constituency say call for the governor’s resignation on account of the crisis plaguing the party in the state is unfortunate.

    The duo insist that Chief Godspower Ake, who was sacked by an Abuja High Court on April 15, remains the duly-elected Chairman of the PDP in Rivers, having been so elected at the March 17, 2012 state congress, which took place at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.

    Chinda and Amadi spoke yesterday on Rhythm 93.7 FM, Port Harcourt’s phone-in programme, Viewpoint.

    They faulted, in particular, the call by a chieftain of the PDP, Prince Emma Anyanwu, for Amaechi’s resignation, saying that Anyanwu’s son currently serves as a Special Assistant to the Governor.

    They asked Anyanwu to advise his son to resign first.

    Anyanwu, at a press conference, had said: “It is unfortunate that the Rivers State Governor has allowed the issues in the state to degenerate to the level of the dissolution of the leadership and councillors of Obio/Akpor LG council.

    “After careful consideration and review of events in the past one week in Rivers State PDP, leading to the April 15 judgment and inauguration of Chief Felix Obuah as the chairman of PDP and his executive in Abuja the entry and reception of over 500,000 persons at the Port Harcourt International Airport and party’s state secretariat along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, indicate the acceptance of the change in leadership.

    “Governor Amaechi has definitely lost control of and the management of the state. He has lost the heart of the party, on which he was elected into office. This situation has also resulted in the illegal dissolution of Obio/Akpor LG council’s elected Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the seventeen councillors.

    “Based on all these and other issues on the ground, I am calling on him (Amaechi) to immediately resign as the governor in order to allow peace to reign.

    “I made efforts to resolve the differences between Amaechi and Wike to no avail. I blame the failure of the efforts on Amaechi, who should, as the leader of the party in the state, reach out to the people.”

    However, Chinda said: “Wike was nominated by Governor Amaechi to become a Minister. He also made him the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011. He is an ingrate.

    “Wike also lied that he was not aware of the March 17, 2012 state congress of PDP, where Chief Ake was elected as the Chairman. The Minister of State for education again lied that he was not aware of the judgment of the Rivers High Court, Okehi in Etche LGA, which confirms Chief Ake as the duly-elected chairman of the party.

    “I am an Ikwerre man. Governor Amaechi earlier stated that it would not be proper for another Ikwerre person to succeed him in 2015, when he would have been Governor for eight years, bearing in mind that he was the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly for eight years (1999 to 2007).

    “We should allow another ethnic group in Rivers State to produce the Governor in 2015. Wike, an Ikwerre man, should do away with personal interest of wanting to succeed Amaechi in 2015. We should all be concerned about the development of Rivers State and not personal ambition.

    “No doubt about the fact that Chief Ake remains the duly-elected Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State. We will never recognise Obuah. Chief Ake has appealed the April 15 judgment. Judiciary will rise to the occasion again. We have confidence in the judiciary. We will accept the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    “We should not return to the era of lawlessness in Rivers State, where people walk on the streets of Port Harcourt with their hands raised. Rivers State has become a huge construction yard. Governor Amaechi is developing the state and ensuring good governance.”

    While also speaking yesterday on the radio station’s current affairs programme, the lawmaker (Amadi), insisted that due process was followed in the April 22 suspension of the Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG, Timothy Nsirim, his vice and 17 councillors, loyal to Wike, as well as the inauguration the following day of a seven-member caretaker committee.

  • NCAA grounds Amaechi’s aircraft

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA) on Saturday  declared that the controversial aircraft in the service of Governor Rotimi Amaechi  of Rivers state  was on an illegal operations in the country.
    Consequent upon this, the NCAA has grounded the Bombardier -BD  700 , Global Express aircraft with registration number N565RS, which the authority said had an expired clearance approval  effective April 2, 2013.

    Addressing reporters on Saturday at the Aviation House, the headquarters of NCAA, the Director of Airworthiness  Standards, Engineer Benedict  Adeyileka, explained that  while the aircraft was still operating illegally , it has been sighted in several places including Owerri and Akure.

    ” The controversial aircraft on the service of Governor Rotimi  Amaechi  is operating illegally on the country.
    “The aircraft a Bombardier BD 700 , Global Express with registration number N565RS, has its clearance approval expired since Tuesday ,April 2, 2013, by our records the last flight clearance for this aircraft was approved for operations on Thursday March 28, 2013 on Accra/Port Harcourt and Accra to terminate on April 2, 2013.

    “With this development , the aircraft has exceeded the extra two days or forty eight hours leeway for it to leave the country.
    “While still operating illegally, the aircraft has been sighted in several places, including Owerri and Akure, the owner of this aircraft according to the certificate of registration is Bank of Utah Trustees of Salt Lake City , Utah United States of America.
    “The clearance for the aircraft was sought by Caverton Helicopters on March 27,2013.
    “NCAA did not ground the aircraft prior to request for start up in Akure on Friday 26, April 2013.
    “Consequently, this aircraft in reference is hereby grounded at any airport that is located right now in the country,” NCAA stated.

  • Crisis in Rivers

    Crisis in Rivers

    PDP should not drag the judiciary down with it

     

    The turmoil in Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where there are two parallel executive committees is unhealthy for the judiciary and the polity. The verdict by Justice Ishaq Bello of the Federal Capital Territory High Court declaring the congress that produced Chief Godspower Ake as state chairman last year invalid has provoked angry reactions from the governor of the state, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and those sympathetic to him.

    Indeed, the state government has argued that Governor Amaechi was the target in the move, which had all the trappings of high-wire politics. Ake enjoys the support of the governor, while the minister of state for education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, leads another faction believed to be working with President Goodluck Jonathan and the national secretariat of the party, in a bid to cut the governor, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), to size. This is not the first time that President Jonathan would be flexing such muscles; he did the same thing to remove the former governor of his state, Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, using legal and extra-legal means in the process. We seem to be in an era where vendetta has been elevated to national credo.

    Prior to the Justice Bello ruling, there had been power tussles involving the president and the governor, with a surprise move early in the year to whittle down the influence of the NGF chairman through the establishment of a rival PDP Governors’ Forum, with a fellow Niger Delta governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as chairman.

    In all this, truth is the casualty and the polity is getting unnecessarily overheated. Governor Amaechi’s supporters insist that the Abuja judgment could be compared to the one delivered by Justice Bassey Ikpeme in Abuja in 1993 on the famous June 12 elections. Ikpeme, who was moved to the Federal Capital Territory just about one week before the matter to scuttle the presidential election was filed by the Chief Arthur Nzeribe-led Association for a Better Nigeria, ruled in favour of the unknown association without due regard for processes.

    In like manner, Governor Amaechi’s men also contend that the matter ought not to have gone to an FCT court when it involved the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a federal agency. More appropriately, they have argued, it ought to have been filed before a Federal High Court, thus raising queries about the motive and conduct of the judge who strangely assumed jurisdiction in such a matter.

    We are bothered that, almost 53 years after independence, we are still confronted with situations that query the commitment of our elected officials to the rule of law and due process. Leaders have failed to make a distinction between personal and public interest. Now, there are two executive committees in the state. While Ake has the backing of most of the local government chapters of the party and government structures in Port-Harcourt and the local councils, the Felix Obuah executive derives its power from the centre. It is seen by many in the state as an imposed leadership which may have to rely on the police to function. The stage thus appears set for conflict. The state police command seems to have realised this and has said it is duty bound to enforce the contentious Abuja court order.

    The judicial absurdity was further compounded by the ruling of a high court in Port Harcourt which purportedly reversed the judgment of the Abuja high court, with which it has co-efficient jurisdiction.

    This is our worry. If politicians want to go down, they should do that alone; they do not have to drag the judiciary into their political mud because when all else fails, it is to the judiciary that we would turn. We do not understand why a matter that should be tried in Port Harcourt would now be filed in a high court in Abuja. In like manner, we cannot understand the basis of a court nullifying the judgment of another court with co-efficient jurisdiction. A stage is being set for judicial anarchy, which is dangerous.

    We urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) to step into the matter before the Rivers crisis escalates and brings the roof down on our heads.

  • ‘95% of RSUST lecturers abandoned strike’

    ‘95% of RSUST lecturers abandoned strike’

    The Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) said 95 per cent of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have resumed academic work in spite of the ongoing strike by the lecturers.

    The University’s spokesman, Mr. Desmond Wosu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in a chat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that ASUU had declared media war against the university.

    He alleged that the union had resorted to portraying the university in a negative manner so as to publicly undermine its credibility.

    Wosu was reacting to a call by the leadership of ASUU for the state government to set-up a panel of inquire to establish the legality of the reappointment of Prof. Barineme Fakae as Vice-Chancellor.

    He said the call by ASUU was regrettable, especially as Governor Chibuike Amaechi had encouraged the union to seek court redress if it felt that the reappointment exercise lacked transparency.

    He said, “I think what the national leadership of ASUU should do is, if they want legal interpretation of what Governor Amaechi had done; is to go to a competent court of jurisdiction, instead of blackmail and campaign of calumny against Amaechi and the management of this university.

    “For ASUU to continue to blackmail us and wage media war against this university is unfortunate because more than 95 per cent of academic staff have come back to work after realising that it was unnecessary for them to have embarked on the strike in the first place.

    “We appeal to ASUU to sheathe their swords and prevail on its members, who are out there to come back to work because Amaechi performed his civic responsibility of appointing a vice-chancellor for this university.”