PORT HARCOURT — 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, vowed to swim or sink with Governor Rotimi Amaechi as they dismissed insinuations that some of them had succumbed to inducements to impeach the governor.

The assertion by the lawmakers came as the faction of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, opposed to Governor Amaechi’s leadership, opened a new secretariat in Abuja with a promise not to antagonize President Goodluck Jonathan.

The opening of the Governor Jonah Jang-led factional NGF secretariat, however, exposed a setback for the faction as Vice-President Namadi Sambo and three governors that earlier identified with the faction stayed away.

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly including the speaker, Daniel Amachaere, in a joint statement, rebuffed insinuations that some of them had caved in to entreaties to join a plot to impeach the governor.

While pledging to swim and sink with the governor, the lawmakers were, however, mute on whether approaches had been made towards enlisting them into such a plot.

Five of the 32 members of the House who have in the past been associated with the anti-Amaechi tendency did not sign the statement.

The five lawmakers who did not sign the release were Evans Bipi, Kelechi Nwogu, Michael Chinda, Martin Amaewhule and Victor Ihunwo.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, the lawmakers who also declared loyalty to President Jonathan said:

“We have observed with consternation rumours making the rounds, even appearing on the pages of National Dailies that we, the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been financially induced to impeach Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, and Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we make bold to categorically state as follows: that we have not and will not receive any pecuniary gratification or marginal oil fields.

“That we are united in our resolve to commit our unalloyed loyalty to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi Governor and the people of Rivers State; that we the undersigned do not contemplate the impeachment of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike R. Amaechi as an option.

“We reiterate our loyalty to the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the leader of our Great Party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.”

Jang opens alternate NGF office in Abuja

In the absence of Vice President Sambo, the secretariat of the faction of the NGF was formally unveiled by Governor Jang himself at 5.45 pm.

Besides Sambo, three other governors who had last weekend aligned with Jang also failed to turn up or send representatives to the opening ceremony.

The three were Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Saidu Dankigari of Kebbi.

Present at the Commissioning of the Secretariat at Number 2, Nana Close, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja were governors of Taraba, Ondo, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Katsina and Plateau. The governors of Gombe and Benue sent their deputies.

The invitation letter sent to the governors for the commissioning, dated May 28, 2013, and signed by Governor Jang read in part, “It is my honour and pleasure to invite your most esteemed self to the above meeting which is scheduled as follows. Date: Thursday, May 30, 2013. Venue: 2 Nana Close, by Erie Crescent, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja.

“The meeting which shall be preceded by the official commissioning of our new Secretariat by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, shall among others, deliberate on ways and means of consolidating the Forum.”

The NGF before its breakup last weekend had maintained a secretariat at No. 1 DengXiaoping Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

14 of the 16 governors, who were at the event were from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while the other two, Olusegun Mimiko and Peter Obi were from Labour Party, LP, and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, respectively.

PDP governors who shunned the event were those of Kwara, Kebbi, Adamawa; Sokoto; Jigawa; Kano; Enugu; Rivers and Niger states.

Absense of some govs ‘ll not undermine Jang’s credibility — Dickson

Meanwhile, Governor Serikae Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday insisted that the absence of some governors would not undermine the credibility of Jang as chairman of the NGF.

“At the meeting in Kwara State where Governor Rotimi Amaechi was elected, only seven governors and six deputies, and that made it a total of 13 as we are going on more people will join.”

Affirming that the forum was not established to antagonize the presidency, he said: “This forum does not exist on personal aggrandizement; this forum does not exist for antagonizing the presidency and other people in authority.

“This forum is not a platform for opposition politics, the forum is not to be used to promote an agenda that will be like promoting an alternative government, what we have done is to insulate the forum from holding meetings in governors lodges and so on.

Also speaking at the occasion, the factional chairman, Governor Jang said the opening of a secretariat was to reduce the cult of personality in the NGF.

“It is not proper that governors should meet at private residences, and this informed the reason why we decided to get a suitable place, where we will feel comfortable. Hence this will further strengthen the forum and Nigerians will see unity among us”.

Jang’s secretariat to launch a website

In a related development, the secretariat has concluded plans to launch a website that will among other things reflect “the new thinking, perception, goals and orientation of the NGF under a presidential system of government.”

According to a statement issued by the factional NGF, “The website is equally expected to project and propagate the vision and mission of the NGF under Dr. Jang as a non-confrontational, fence mending, bridge-building and above all supportive of Mr. President and all other leaders in their quest to build a new Nigeria of our collective dreams and aspirations.

“The NGF is out to strengthen the democracy we have all painstakingly nurtured over time, serve the collective interest of Nigerians devoid of selfish tendencies, which could threaten the unity, peace, stability and progress of the Nation.

“The NGF under the guidance of Governor Jang will in no circumstance run a parallel government to that of the President, but will rather work hard to sustain all existing democratic structures as will clearly be captured in the website.

“It is hoped that, when formally launched, it will afford Nigerians the opportunity to regularly and objectively comment and make contributions on issues of common and national interest, so that we can collectively build our democracy to enviable heights.”

Rivers group wants NGF to release video of last election

Meanwhile, Pilot Group has called on the NGF to release the full video coverage of the last NGF election and “other electoral process observed in the course of the said election”.

A statement made available to newsmen, yesterday, in Port Harcourt and signed by the Chairman, Publicity committee of the group, Mr Egbe Festus, expressed hope that a release of the full video coverage of events during the NGF election would lay to rest the controversies that had dogged the outcome of the election.

While congratulating Governor Chibuike Amaechi for his victory at the NGF election, the body urged the National Working Committee of the PDP to exercise caution in the way it meddles into the internal affairs of the state chapter of the party, adding that the suspension of the elected officials of Obio Akpor local government should be thoroughly looked into to determine the legality of the action before applying sanction on any member of the party.

Continuing, the statement enjoined governors to conduct themselves in manner that would consolidate the nation’s democracy, stressing that they should accept defeat where necessary and be magnanimous in victory.

source
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/we-ll-swim-or-sink-with-amaechi-rivers-lawmakers/

earthgreeners:
Present at the Commissioning of the Secretariat at Number 2, Nana Close, off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja were governors of Taraba, Ondo, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Cross River, Anambra, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Katsina and Plateau. The governors of Gombe and Benue sent their deputies

Watch the pattern:
It is more of the South South, south East and Middle Belt alliance.

This is not about Jonathan or Amechi, it is about the version of democracy we have in Nigeria.
it is obvious that Amechi is in the "good" books of the "opposition".

The split in governors forum might as well be the voting pattern in 2015.

Good to see these legislators holding on firm to what they truly believe.

"Principles are indivisible…any attempt to compromise on matters of principles is the abandonment of principle itself" ~ Nkrumah

The Jonathan camp obviously underrated Amaechi. They underrated his resolve, popularity, political sagacity and those backing him.

The Amaechi camp has always been one step ahead - on the private jet issue, withdrawal of policemen, sponsored protest in PH, the Governors' Forum election and now this one.

It's too early to know or tell if Amaechi would survive or not but so far, he's had the upper hand. So far, Amaechi has been calm while the Jonathan camp is in disarray.

Honestly, the Jonathan camp should eat the humble pie, treat its bloodied nose and leave Amaechi alone. It's like the cartoon of Tom and Jerry where the smaller rat uses its wits and survival instinct to wallop the bigger cat over and over. Alternatively, the Jonathan camp should change its strategists and up its game.

While all the efforts of the Jonathan camp are fixated on Amaechi, something tells me that Amaechi might not even be fielded by the opposition or the PDP splinter group. They might just be using him as a red herring or distraction. What if they end up using Sullivan Chime or, wait for this, Akpabio himself?

What if Dangote is drafted into the race and asked to pair up with Donald Duke or Amaechi?

One thing is clear, those backing Amaechi cut across party/regional lines.

noblezone:

Watch the pattern:
It is more of the South South, south East and Middle Belt alliance.

This is not about Jonathan or Amechi, it is about the version of democracy we have in Nigeria.
it is obvious that Amechi is in the "good" books of the "opposition".

The split in governors forum might as well be the voting pattern in 2015.

Meaning opposition will win, no?

superior1: Meaning opposition will win, no?

it's to early to predict....