A presidential bodyguard stopped embattled Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, from getting close to President Jonathan to pay homage.
Mr. Amaechi, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and his loyalists arrived the venue when the event was already in progress.
They came in from the Rivers Governor’s lodge where they met earlier for about 15 minutes and then adjourned to honour the President’s invitation.
On his entourage were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Adams Oshiomole (Edo); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Abdulazeez Kyari-(Zamfara); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Magartakada Wamakko (Sokoto).
Governor Amaechi, after settling down, got up and made his way towards where President Goodluck Jonathan was seated in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, apparently to pay homage.
However, a presidential bodyguard blocked the governor from meeting the President. The Governor resisted for a while but had to return to his seat when it was glaring the bodyguard won’t allow him.
Also, Governor Amaechi, who was seated in company of the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswil Akpabio, was not recognised at the event while Mr. Akpabio was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
The paper also reported an altercation between Amaechi and Akpabio. The duo reportedly accused each other of being undemocratic.
“You are not democratic”, Mr. Amaechi told Akpabio and the latter insatantly fired back, “You too, you are not democratic”. Few minutes after that, Governors Amaechi, Fayemi and Oshiomole left the venue.
On his way out, Governor Amaechi fielded questions from journalists. The following conversation ensued between him and State House correspondents.
Is your presence here with other governors an indication that the problem in NGF has been resolved?
Amaechi: Was NGF sick? I don’t know about factions. We are holding NGF meeting and we agreed that those of us who were there should honour the President and attend the dinner, we have attended, you saw all of them, some have left and I am leaving too
Did you tell Governor Jang there is meeting now?
Amaechi: He was invited. What is my business if he is not there? 16 to 19. Are you not a Nigerian? 16 governors voted for him, 19 governors voted for me. If he does not accept the 19, he is undemocratic. Anybody who supports him, including television houses, are also undemocratic.
I have said it in a statement that if at any point in time we cannot uphold what 19 governors said, then we should be afraid of 2015.
If the PDP is suspending me for that reason, too bad.
We must learn to be democratic. I am not aware that the party has given any reason for suspending me, if that is the reason, too bad. The party is yet to give any reason for my suspension. I am not aware that the party suspended me for winning an election.
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too bad
ReplyDeleteTheres protocol which Amaechi broke- a governor cannot if uninvited approach a table of Heads of states, Security guy was doing his job-- SIMPLE
ReplyDeleteAnd when did that type of protocol starts? If a duly elected governor of the federal republic of Nigeria is blocked from meeting with the president of the same federal republic of Nigeria, I wonder what will become of a commoner like you! There are some political stupidity that need not be dispayed in public for cyring out loud!
DeleteFOOLS THERE IS NO PROTOCOL IN HELL OR HEAVEN. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. YEYE PEOPLE.
ReplyDeleteLet's call a spade a spade and stop calling it a big spone b4 a child. Is there democracy in nigeria? Is d relationship bw d governor n president cordial? That should b address first.
ReplyDeletetoo bad, is better u left
ReplyDeleteIf you were Mr President's bodyguard, what would you have done in this kind of situation. Please be Sincere.
ReplyDeleteIts obvious that the bodyguard was detailed to by the president to do what he did.
DeleteIf jona wanted Amechi to pay him a homage, he should hv called his body guard to order. Shame on niger leaders. Hope 4 niger is too far
ReplyDeleteI think the body guard is doing his job most especially as they at logger head, therefore, he has the right to protect his boss who to see and who not to see, let Amechi take it easy, he should expect such
ReplyDeleteGEJ,u have confirmed to finally dat u have nothing to offer me as a nigerian.imagine what u r doing in d name of curring favor frm our funny bros up North.
ReplyDeleteSo, bcos u want to continue in dis snaillike misdirected,confused n trouble ridden administration,u no longer knw dat after anoda 4yrs(if u manage to rig it n u already knw u will lose), u will still come down n meet us in South south abi? B guided o!
he would have been doing what he was asked to do. Was this the first time the gov tried to interact with the president? Did this happen before?
ReplyDeleteThis GEJ is becoming a tyrant, he has forgotten that he was just one humble teacher before. Really power drunkens people.
ReplyDeletewhy are we discussing this polity,it's so obvious that gej is a broken compass just like the system.we find solace in religion which the whites sold to us and they were able to attain thier feets via revolution.that's the antidote;revolution!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey should stop causing a stir and do what the are supposedly elected to do,change wouldn't come through another slogan,economy is not about statistic is about real human being.
ReplyDeleteSo far wen d melodrama has started amaechi has behaved more maturely dan gej is dis d first tyme dey are going t greet each oda protocol my foot gej shud 4get 2015 bcos he was just an opportunist! I had no shoes may b nd most unfortunate dat it is only himself nd useless minister dat can si deir transformation as a nigerian mysef nd people around mi hv not sin it. Gush na dinner d guy dey do nw visionless man.
ReplyDeleteMeetin wit d president uninvited in a gatherin isn,t safe. I tink wat happpend to Gov. Amechi is right.
ReplyDeleteSome of us don't want speak d truth about this issue. What image does it give of the Nigerian Nation if in a supposed National function,some pple in the Executive class are invited whereas other are not? What does it tell you about the state of the Nation? These pple are supposed to be the principal reference points of our great Nation. In the presence of visiting presidents of other Nations who probably hold us in high esteem. They don't need to laugh at us with their mouth b4 we know we're making mockery of ourselves.All these things are quite embarrassing & we're not addressing this issue properly....Chris.
ReplyDelete