AMID a grand plot to impeach him, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi spoke yesterday on his travails, saying he will have no regrets if he leaves office.
A Southsouth governor is said to have been directed by some forces in the Presidency to fund the plot under which seven lawmakers are to be induced to join the anti-Amaechi camp.
Of the Assembly’s 32 members, five are against Amaechi.
But Amaechi said: “Indeed, it is only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has the guts to suspend a governor without a reason. I leave them to God and to you (the people)…. We must come together to defend Rivers State. It’s not about me; I have served eight years as Speaker, nearly six years as governor. Even if I am removed tomorrow, I am satisfied that this state, this country and history will recognise and remember me.”
“If there is no history that I have made, the one God has helped me to make is the one that I stood out and fought for my right and became a governor. You voted on my behalf and the Supreme Court confirmed that when you people were voting, you were voting for me. But you also need to make your own history and that history is that let Abuja know that you can stand for your right, whether you belong to PDP or APC or any other party.”
Amaechi, who was re-elected Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) last Friday, has been suspended from the PDP – a dimension he insists was unfair. He said the people’s votes must count in the choice of who becomes governor of the state in 2015.
The governor was addressing an inter-party summit with the theme “Cohesive inter-party relations as a panacea for peace and sustainable development in Rivers State” in Port Harcourt, the state capital. He noted that any government which could not attribute its victory to the people’s votes would not be responsible to the people, adding that governments at all levels become transparent and accountable only when they fear they could be voted out for poor performance.
Amaechi recalled his speech at a youths forum on Monday.
He said: “If you listened to me yesterday (Monday) when I was addressing Rivers youths, I told them ‘all those from 18 and above should please get up’ and they got up. I asked them to sit down, they did and I asked again, ‘all those that have voter cards should please get up’ and a lot of them did and I said we shall punish irresponsible politicians with our cards. So what I expect from all of you whether you belong to APC, CPC, where ever you belong to, start now to mobilise the state for one man, one vote. We will not allow them intimidate us with police or anything. Instead, we shall intimidate them with our votes.”
He stressed the need for a free and fair election.
“Any government formed without the people’s votes cannot be responsible to the people,” the governor said, adding: “The only way government or governors or presidents or whoever can stop corruption, can stop mal-administration is when that government is put in place by you (the people) and they know that if they don’t govern well, you (the people) will vote them out. So your first demand should be that all governments must be responsible enough to allow for a free and fair election.”
The keynote speaker and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Abe, urged politicians to preserve and not destroy Rivers State by their actions.
He lamented the lack of participatory democracy among political parties and the sole desire by parties to acquire and retain political power for selfish interests.
Abe said: “In Nigeria, the evolution of our party politics has been less than satisfactory. I say this because our country today is deeply divided along ethnic, religious and cultural lines. The main challenge facing our country has been the development of national political parties that will promote issue and idea-based contest for power. In other words, the contest for power will be a contest of ideas. The parties in Nigeria have evolved into vehicles strictly for the acquisition and retention of political power. In this evolution, our political parties have lost one of the key attributes of participatory democracy, that leadership should be a contest, not of persons, but of ideas.”
The chairman of the occasion and retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, urged political parties to believe and mean well for the country they serve.
He urged politicians to uphold the truth and accept fairness: “I believe truth must be upheld, fairness must be justified and accepted and those who think that it is enough to conspire against truth have to be exposed,” Justice Karibi-Whyte.
He advised political office holders to work for the common good of the people who voted them to power: “We are talking about governor, the office of the governor. We admire the governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi because of his performance. We follow him because of his performance. We’ll do everything to ensure that he succeeds and the institution still carries on,” the eminent Jurist said.
He criticised those plotting against Amaechi, calling them conspirators with a destructive motive: “The group, which, as all of us know, they are all conspirators. The conspiracy runs foul when it is directed towards a wrong motive. When it is a conspiracy, which is destructive, which is oppressive and which makes it difficult for the common man to admire what is going on, then there is a foreboding of anarchy.”
Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu, yesterday said the directive to obtain permit from the police before embarking on peaceful protest came from Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar.
He was apparently reacting to the statement by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi while addressing Rivers youths at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, that he would soon lead Rivers people to protest injustice without obtaining any permit from the police commissioner.
Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), expressed shock that Mbu could lead over 10,000 ex-militants on May 22 to protest against him and his administration in Port Harcourt, after which he said the police boss hurriedly banned protests. He alleged that he had taken sides.
The Rivers governor also accused the police commissioner of supporting the return to the era of militancy and insecurity, where people had to raise their hands, while walking on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environs, which he said he tackled, when he came into office of October 26, 2007.
On whether he would give the governor a permit if he wants to lead a peaceful protest, the police boss said: “Until then.”
The Rivers police commissioner also declared that he was not in the state to satisfy any individual, but had great respect for Amaechi, while frowning on the attitude of the labour leaders, who he criticised for forcing the workers to join the two-day warning strike. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Shame on you IG if sb can use you to achieve his political interest wrongly and blindly, cant you step down or must you lose your reputation and integrity. Have nt you seen what happened to ur past bosses. God will put the Presidency, IG, Minister of Education, First Lady, etc in big shame and Nigerians are watching you.
ReplyDeleteGod is seeing you shameless IG and his troop of sycopants. Remeber one day you will leave that office and posterity will judge you. GEJ, Clerk 1ST Lady Min of Education , Akpabio you will not remain in power, where is Abacha, IBB, Obj.
ReplyDeleteUhmmm.before an idol is destroyed ,it will ask for a request to be put inside a flowing and turbulent water,knowing fully well that it has no hand to swim,the end result is better imagined than being experienced .
ReplyDeletePresident Jonathan is fishing in turbulent waters,he is becoming vindictive and totalitarian,
Ah the path of OBJ ,with all baba s achievement ,lack of forgiveness ,almost destroyed his legacy,
Why GEJ ?
Abraham Tajuddeen you are a very stupid boy. so call Abraham if i meet you i will kill you.fool,what can can you do to him.Stupid boy.
ReplyDeleteYour death intention will come on your Head. If there is God in heaven you will not escape his judgement.
DeleteAmaechi is a stupid boy,this is power,
ReplyDeleteAmaechi wants to betray south south. And i dnt think that they will just fold their hands and be watching him. Conniving with northern politicians who think that they own Nigeria is not the best option for you.Beware.He who eats with the spirit should use a very long spoon. Saidu
ReplyDeleteThe gov forum election has shown GEJ how untrustworthy the northerners are. Because Amechi has a vice president ambition,he is now toiling with the president. You never know hausas in terms of politics.they will use you and dump you. Amechi make the hay while the sun shines. This is the only opportunity that has ever come to the south south since the existence of Nigeria and you are playing with it.che che che! Shame!
ReplyDeleteUzo and his senior friend I believe u are both graduate of apeteshi and ogogoro. Where was Akpabio when Amechi was using all his energy and power to fight for Gej,u guys are very ungrateful even GEJ.
ReplyDeleteUZO & others attacking Ibrahim & calling him stupkid are insane. GEJ's plan to turn Nigeria to lawless & inferior country will not suceed. Era of godfatherism had passed, our vote must count now. GEj should not impose his choice on us. We have right to vote who we want. All his plans, policies & promises had failed. He has brought bad luck to this nation - subsidy removal, insecurity etc. Let's try another person & see who is better. GBN!
ReplyDeleteAbubakar idris
ReplyDeleteAnnonymous 4:40 your wish to kill another man for expressing himself will lead to your own death in Jesus Name. The God of justice will visit you with his sword of Judgement.Damn soul!!!
ReplyDeleteEvery evil back to the sender.
ReplyDeletehmmm nija, remember one God created us let forget tribalism and take this country to the greater height
ReplyDeleteNone of this is fight for common man in this country nor GEJ neither Amechi all their luk for is their own example Goodluck b4 his tenure dat is nt going 2 spend more than a tenure here we are story change and yet nothing 2 write about the one they have, rather than talk the issues is dat know one has the fear of God anymore so no one is thik about masses anymore we all need to sit down ask our self where are we going and not 2 be used anymore this country need everyone support not all this that heartless and pretended.
ReplyDeleteIndeed when people keeps talking like this, i begin to wonder if real they desire sustainable development in nigeria.south south my foot there is president that comes from the south that doesn't no his left from his right and some of you are saying amaechi is a traitor if nigeria want to remain a formidable nation anybody that is credible should become president .enough of all this politice by affiliation be wise.
ReplyDeletePolitics is a game and is only the perfect manipulators that find themselves comfortable at the result of the game. Governor Amaechi of rivers state have no problem to any extend he intend to play his politics as far as is in accordance with achieving his political progress but it would be good GEJ ask his wife to go and get him food as he discuss this nation's issues and stop allowing her cause unnecessary mayhem to this nation. And do well all of you a favor to the masses to allow our elected leaders carry out their lawful duties cos time wait for no man
ReplyDeleteAre u all deluded ?. Its high time u all stop this useless tribal politics. Since Jonathan became preside how beneficial is it to an average ijaw man in Yenegoa , its like me fooling myself expecting Obasanjo presidency with special treatment of the Egba / Yoruba land talkless of the whole country ,this not about a region its about good governance for the betterment of the whole nation. Therefore u ppl from the south south should stop deceiving themselves about Jonathan presidency. Most important question they should be asking is their life better under this present administration than the previous one.
ReplyDelete