** Presidency condemns northern governors’ visit to Amaechi


The presidency described the visit as political drama.

The presidency has reacted angrily to last week’s solidarity visit of four northern governors to Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State over the violent political crisis there.

Presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, who addressed a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, described the visit as “political drama”.

Mr. Okupe said the visit by Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, and Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger is a political move which is “clearly intended to create fear, despair and sense of apprehension among the citizenry.”

He said the governors, all members of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were trying to create the impression that Rivers State is in crisis contrary to what is on the ground.

“Insinuations and statements suggesting that Rivers State is on fire are grossly unfounded. So far, as is it evident to every discerning observer of political developments, the state is calm and peaceful. Residents of the state continue to go about their various businesses, religious, social and political activities under peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

Mr. Okupe added that a pointer to the prevailing peace in the state is that “Governor Amaechi, the Chief executive and Chief security Officer of the state, felt confident enough to travel to the United Kingdom on official assignment. It is doubtful he would have had the luxury of leaving the country if his state is in turmoil as is being canvassed”.

Rivers crisis has no bearing on Nigeria

The presidential spokesperson also said the situation in Rivers State is purely a localized political matter that has no dangerous or far reaching consequences for the peace and security of the nation.

He said the crisis in Rivers was an attempt by some state lawmakers to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The attempted impeachment by five lawmakers loyal to the first lady, Patience Jonathan, and the presidency led to violence in the 32-member Assembly.

“Since our return to democratic rule in 1999, It is on record that not less than twelve states have witnessed incidents of attempted impeachment of Speakers of Houses of Assembly in Nigeria and none has posed any threat to peace and security in the country even when our democracy was not this established,” Mr. Okupe said.

“Developments in Rivers State do not pose any threat to our democracy. Our democracy remains robust, alive and well. In politics as in every sphere of human activity, different shades of opinion on issues are not uncommon within the polity but often get resolved either politically or through legal channels. It is therefore disingenuous for anyone to suggest that the political disagreement in Rivers State would imperil and ultimately derail our democracy.”

Visit is hypocritical

Mr. Okupe also recalled that in Ogun State in 2010, after series of sustained fracas and attempts at impeachment and counter impeachment, the Inspector General of Police locked up the House of Assembly for several months.

“In all that time, nobody in the whole country suggested that the situation was a threat to our nascent democracy, and no state Governor went on any solidarity visit,” he said.
He also said Nigeria is not in any way in disarray.

“As is the case in every country of the world, there may be conflicts of ideas and interests here and there,which in itself is the beauty of democracy and should not by any means be construed to mean that there is chaos in the country or that Nigeria is tilting towards anarchy as some people have claimed.

“Nigeria remains peaceful and is not and cannot in any way be threatened by political developments in Rivers State,” Mr. Okupe said.

The presidential aide took a further swipe at the four PDP governors, accusing them of not being as interested in the security challenges bedevilling the north much as the political crisis in Rivers.

“It is clear that one of the most potent threats to our corporate existence and sovereignty since independence has been the Boko Haram insurgency

“Most reasonable Nigerians would have expected these governors to be deeply concerned and appreciative of the laudable effort of the Federal Government, which has brought reprieve from fear as well as comfort and solace not only to the people of the affected areas but also to the entire nation and international community.

“Surprisingly, they appear to be more interested in political manoeuvring and grandstanding at the expense of the well-being of the people in their states and the stability of the nation at large,” he said.

NGF chairman cannot determine who becomes president

Mr. Okupe also spoke about the crisis that followed the election of the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF and its implication on the 2015 election.

Mr. Amaechi was elected chairman of the forum despite opposition to his candidacy by the PDP and allegedly the presidency. Observers had described Mr. Amaechi’s victory over Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau, despite the opposition, as an indication of what could happen in 2015 should some PDP governors work with or for the opposition.

The presidential aide, however, said the issues are not related.
“The Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF issue like the political development in Rivers State remains essentially an affair of the 36 state governors. The outcome of elections in the body is inconsequential to the orderly governance of the Nigerian state by the Presidency.

“The choice of who becomes leader of the body clearly has no significant ramification on the wider political calculation of who becomes President of the country as events in our recent history bear out,” he said.

He said the chairman of the NGF in 2011, former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki ” was clearly atodds with the President. He contested and lost the party’s presidential primaries to the incumbent President of the country who went ahead to be elected President by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians”.

According to Mr. Okupe “It is clear therefore that occupying the chairmanship of the NGF does not in any way confer any political influence or advantage as regards who becomes President of the country neither will it be of any major political significance in the 2015 presidential race as is being bandied about erroneously”.

Mr. Okupe admonished the state governors that are “having serious issues with their party to take advantage of various channels within the party machinery to resolve it.”

“Also, they may first of all try to show good example of their commitment to peace by working to put their own house in order through restoration of peace and consensus within the NGF.

“While we note their current political moves, they should be mindful that in all they do as political leaders, they ought to put the interest of the nation and our democracy first. This indeed, is the hallmark of true patriotism,” he added.

Commendation for opposition governors

Mr. Okupe, however, commended the eight opposition governors who also visited Mr. Amaechi two days after the northern governors’ visit.

The governors, members of the yet to be registered All Progressives Congress, advised Mr. Amaechi to officially inform the president of developments in the state.

“We note with satisfaction and appreciation, the subsequent visit by five Governors and two deputy Governors including Governor Fayemi, Governor Fashola, Governor Aregbesola, Governor Ajimobi and Governor Amosun, who demonstrated high and commendable sense of patriotism and genuine concern for the nation, with very conciliatory disposition and statesman like advise to Governor Amaechi towards finding a lasting solution to the political disagreements between the Governor and members of the State’s House of Assembly,” Mr. Okupe said.

The aide reiterated his earlier position that the presidency is not involved in the dispute in Rivers State and will not deliberately engage in any act of destabilization of Rivers State or any state in the country; “neither is it interested for whatever reason, in destabilization of the NGF”.

“In consonance with the dictates and practice of true federalism and the supremacy of the rule of law, it will be advisable that whatever political entanglements may still exist in Rivers State should be resolved politically or by employing due process of law, in the interest of peaceful co-existence and overall well-being of its citizens,” he said

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/141596-rivers-crisis-presidency-condemns-northern-governors-visit-to-amaechi.html?wpmp_tp=1

Waiting for abati comment on dis matter

Still living in denials...

Sincere 9gerian:
“Since our return to democratic rule in 1999, It is on record that not less than twelve states have witnessed incidents of attempted impeachment of Speakers of Houses of Assembly in Nigeria and none has posed any threat to peace and security in the country even when our democracy was not this established,” Mr. Okupe said.

Mr. Okupe also recalled that in Ogun State in 2010, after series of sustained fracas and attempts at impeachment and counter impeachment, the Inspector General of Police locked up the House of Assembly for several months.

“In all that time, nobody in the whole country suggested that the situation was a threat to our nascent democracy, and no state Governor went on any solidarity visit,” he said.
He also said Nigeria is not in any way in disarray..

Exactly. The latest was the crisis that engulfed the Kogi State House of Assembly late last year
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/kogi-assembly-crisis-no-end-in-sight/

Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

.

But am in love with Jonathan

Bleep.u.sexkills:
Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

Yes, there is crisis in Rivers State (see the Topic of this thread) but NOTHING unusual and nothing to warrant chief executives of other states to abandon the their duties and take turns to pay solidarity visit to Rivers State

I have no doubt in my mind that the President is surrounded himself with people of low brain. I hope they will not start going to the market to see who is talking against oga so that they can respond. Tinubu talk you respond, Buhari talk you respond, even it is fire for fire on Nairaland. Where is the professionalism in responding to all oga critics?

.

Mr president,
Carry go...
Nothing do you.
Your enemies and detractors will come in seven ways but flee in seven thousand directions.
Be rest assured that Nigerian masses are solidly behind you.
Have we had it so good before?
Was it the yar adua era with his meaning less seven point agenda and no clear cut direction....queues in filling stations courtesy of lukman his petroleum minister.
Then mediocrity was celebrated.
Was it obj's era of do and die politics,
Where he connived with the uba brothers to abduct a sitting governor.....
And mind you heaven did not fall down then.
Now we are in a new era....
No long queue in filling stations
The rail systems are gradually returning back
Steady improvement in the power sector
One can just perceive that change anywhere you go..
All these haters,devils advocate,enemies of progress can all go and drown in the atlantic ocean.
GEJ TILL 2019.

Must these low self esteem, insecure and paranoid dullards and losers respond to everything in Nigeria even to what really shouldn't bother them?

With all the problems facing the country, these worthless clowns are worried about some governors exercising their fundamental rights..


These are the most petty and childish people on the surface of the earth..

The four illiterate left their states to pay a not needed solidarity visit to Amaechi using tax payers money. Amaechi knows that GEJ is not behind the rivers crisis and had kept mute whenever the foolish ACN/APC and some moles in PDP wants to drag the good name of Mr president into the useless matter

Bleep.u.sexkills:
Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

Because most of you hate to hear the truth, and you will vote for GEJ in 2015 again when they made you believe that the Hausa/Fulani want power at all cost because it is their birth right and Amaechi is a traitor, since they can't repeat the "he has no shoe" this time around.

Bleep.u.sexkills:
Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

Bleep.u.sexkills:
Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

Bleep.u.sexkills:
Even Co-President Patience Jonathan admitted last week that there was problem in Rivers State. Only a f00l will believe that it is sunny or rosy as Okupe want us to believe.

Jonathan administration is full of deceit. Why do they lie so much?

OH YES, Rivers state is in big trouble more than those northern states and that is why these boko haram infected governors leave their boko haram infested states to solidarity visit in PH. Anyway as someone said earliar, they came to inspect a new bomb factory and places to trow the bombs

chidindufrank: The four illiterate left their states to pay a not needed solidarity visit to Amaechi using tax payers money. Amaechi knows that GEJ is not behind the rivers crisis and had kept mute whenever the foolish ACN/APC and some moles in PDP wants to drag the good name of Mr president into the useless matter

So u are trying to tell us that,u are more educated than them.U are really a ignorant donky.

Ibrahim mr fish:
So u are trying to tell us that,u are more educated than them.U are really a ignorant donky.

Yes, I am more educated than they!(your governors from north) kill yourself if you like or tell your governors to challenge me on a national debate

Mods I dey beg for front page today bikonu https://www.nairaland.com/1370593/man-45-nabbed-molesting-16-yr-old#17004322

Eko Ile are yu back? Where did yu go ‎​t̶̲̥̅̊​o̶̲̥̅̊​ ? Or were yu banned by de mods. I heard Gov Fashola wants ‎​t̶̲̥̅̊​o̶̲̥̅̊​ start collecting toll frm peeps hawking in Lagos roads. Can't stop laffing at such joke.

Eko Ile are yu back? Where did yu go ‎​t̶̲̥̅̊​o̶̲̥̅̊​ ? Or were yu banned by de mods. I heard Gov Fashola wants ‎​t̶̲̥̅̊​o̶̲̥̅̊​ start collecting toll frm peeps hawking in Lagos roads. Can't stop laffing at such joke. Soure: Nairaland

chukjojo: [color=#990000][/color]




OH YES, Rivers state is in big trouble more than those northern states and that is why these boko haram infected governors leave their boko haram infested states to solidarity visit in PH. Anyway as someone said earliar, they came to inspect a new bomb factory and places to trow the bombs

,,

chukjojo: [color=#990000][/color]




OH YES, Rivers state is in big trouble more than those northern states and that is why these boko haram infected governors leave their boko haram infested states to solidarity visit in PH. Anyway as someone said earliar, they came to inspect a new bomb factory and places to trow the bombs

,,

chukjojo: [color=#990000][/color]




OH YES, Rivers state is in big trouble more than those northern states and that is why these boko haram infected governors leave their boko haram infested states to solidarity visit in PH. Anyway as someone said earliar, they came to inspect a new bomb factory and places to trow the bombs

Wishful manufactured lies you have there. My advise to you is to get a good education and cut-out your bigotry for you to succeed in life. You are destined for destruction the way life is going for you. Just because those Governors are not in support of your master (retardeen) does not mean they support, habor, or fund Boko Haram. The last time I checked, there are lots of Hausa/Fulani who are in Jonathan's administration. Vice President Sambo is Hausa, is he a boko Haram suppurter? Governor of Bauchi supports Jonathan, is he a Boko Haramists? Babangida Aliyu and all these Governors were once in support of Jonathan.

Your logic is wrong for ever thinking any Hausa/Fulani who is against Jonathan must be in support of Boko Haram. The last time I checked, all these Northern Governors who visited Amaechi were PDP members. Going by your logic, Azazi was right to say Boko haram is PDP and PDP is Boko Haram.

chidindufrank: Yes, I am more educated than they!(your governors from north) kill yourself if you like or tell your governors to challenge me on a national debate

Your sentences did not show you are well educated. Read your sentences again and correct them yourslef.

With your incoherent sentences, I have to conclude those Governors received better education than you.

Maidoki14: Waiting for abati comment on dis matter

abatically, he shall come up with something. I trust that black bear.

So the presidential aide now agrees that Amaechi won the NGF election, haha, can see he is tryin to downplay the importance...
And hey, why uncle retardinho come dey carry jang put for head...

Confussion don com oo, anyway, i go dey laff whil drama unfold.

pistol: Mr president,
Carry go...
Nothing do you.
Your enemies and detractors will come in seven ways but flee in seven thousand directions.
Be rest assured that Nigerian masses are solidly behind you.
Have we had it so good before?
Was it the yar adua era with his meaning less seven point agenda and no clear cut direction....queues in filling stations courtesy of lukman his petroleum minister.
Then mediocrity was celebrated.
Was it obj's era of do and die politics,
Where he connived with the uba brothers to abduct a sitting governor.....
And mind you heaven did not fall down then.
Now we are in a new era....
No long queue in filling stations
The rail systems are gradually returning back
Steady improvement in the power sector
One can just perceive that change anywhere you go..
All these haters,devils advocate,enemies of progress can all go and drown in the atlantic ocean.
GEJ TILL 2019.

I have carried out my survey and noticed that most of the people killing themselves for GEJ on nairaland are igbos, they do that with the hope that after 2019 they will get the presidential ticket on a platter of gold but my question is why not fight for the sit of the presidency now because nigerian politics is unpredictable.

dj187: I have carried out my survey and noticed that most of the people killing themselves for GEJ on nairaland are igbos, they do that with the hope that after 2019 they will get the presidential ticket on a platter of gold but my question is why not fight for the sit of the presidency now because nigerian politics is unpredictable.

That is exactly their reason for supporting Jonathan. Believing the Presidency is theirs in 2019 on a silver platter. This people just believe every region must bow down for them when they need favor. They don't know anything about working with other region or how to give and take or build coalition. They just believe you should just give them what they want. But when Yoruba and Hausa work together for common objective and win, they term you "traitor".

If Jonathan is lucky enough to get second term, VP Sambo will be the nominee in 2019. Sadly, I don't think there will be an Igbo President in my life time and I am only 35 and have about 70 years left to live.

dj187: I have carried out my survey and noticed that most of the people killing themselves for GEJ on nairaland are igbos, they do that with the hope that after 2019 they will get the presidential ticket on a platter of gold but my question is why not fight for the sit of the presidency now because nigerian politics is unpredictable.

,,

chidindufrank: Yes, I am more educated than they!(your governors from north) kill yourself if you like or tell your governors to challenge me on a national debate

National debate,with a nobody like u.Dream on go Bleep urself.Stupid iyamuri,low life.Next thing u will tell us,that pej is more educated than Niger governor,because she is an iyamuri.U ppl are too blind and full of hate.

dj187: I have carried out my survey and noticed that most of the people killing themselves for GEJ on nairaland are igbos, they do that with the hope that after 2019 they will get the presidential ticket on a platter of gold but my question is why not fight for the sit of the presidency now because nigerian politics is unpredictable.

I hired Private eye by name Sherlock Holmes and he deduced that majority of anti pres GEJ elements on NL are Yorubas and Core Northerners because they're not in power now.

Are you happy now