Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State on Tuesday expressed his determination to continue in office as chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, saying his mandate was authorized by majority of state governors.

Speaking at the NGF secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, the governor said that he will not bow to pressure to relinquish the position to his Plateau State counterpart, Governor Jonah Jang, whom he maintained was defeated in the election.

He also reassured staff at the office that the ongoing crisis will not affect the regular payment of their salaries.

In his words: “I think that as a secretariat, you should forget the internal dynamics of the politics of NGF.

“We are colleagues. When we talk among ourselves, you will understand that there are underlining factors that are making them to behave the way they are behaving, that you cannot take away.

“It is usually things that happen sometimes. It is beyond the control of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum. But either way, be rest assured of your salaries.

He called on members of Governor Jang’s faction to return to the fold, insisting that there can never be two secretariats of the NGF.

When asked if he will surrender his re-election, Governor Amaechi replied sharply saying: “No, no, no. That is a mandate that was freely given and I will stick to that mandate.

“The election has come and gone. It was a test for democracy and democracy won at the end of the day.

“All we can do as democrats that were elected by the people is to uphold democracy and stand by democracy. I honestly do not know why the disagreement. I don’t know why.

“I believe that my brothers and colleagues will see reason why we should stop distracting the country and get the country united, to focus on development because at the end of the day, it is about legacy, it is about what we will leave behind for the people.”



Amaechi also warned politicians to be careful so that the ongoing crisis does not affect the 2015 election, insisting that Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State voted during the controversial election.

He said: “Again, tell my brother, Mimiko, that he voted. If he still says he did not vote, I am willing to go with him to his Church, Redeemed Church, we kneel on the alter and say it before God.

Amechi also said: “I want to urge Jang, because he said he is Christian, to know that God watches over everybody and whatever you say, say it according to God because beyond NGF, you and I know that there is heaven and you can’t go to heaven if you don’t tell the truth and stand by the truth.

“I am not saying he is not saying the truth, I am not saying he is not standing by the truth, I am just saying that nobody can go to heaven when he is not saying the truth.

“There is no special benefit that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum chairman is getting.

“I don’t see why there is this disagreement. When I read them saying I am desperate, desperate for what?
“I am only proving a point that Nigerians are allowed to run for any post they want to run.

“And when they do and they are elected, they should stick to their mandates. That is the only point.

“My brothers, who are complaining not about the election, should come back and let’s work together. They must be willing, just as we are willing, to accept.
“It is not really a battle. It is about God. I usually tell people, don’t win the battle and lose the war.

“I think all of us should come together and work for the interest of the nation and for the interest of the poor masses.
“We should not allow our personal interest to override that of the nation.
“It is important we consider the interest of the nation.”

While restating his respect for President Goodluck Jonathan, the NGF chairman, however, insisted that only the governors that gave him the mandate could ask him to step aside.
He said: “When we say President, it is because he is the President of the country and all of us must be loyal to him.

“But my employers are the governors. If they wake up tomorrow and say chairman, you have to go, then I will go. But they must wake up and say so. Not somebody saying it on their behalf.

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/06/05/ngf-i-wont-give-up-my-mandate-i-dare-mimiko-to-tell-god-he-didnt-vote-amaechi/

Is it any surprise that most of these crooks including their oga at the top all worship at the Redeemed Church?

Is it still mind boggling why Adeboye refused to speak on the issues bedeviling the country?

Abi oooo why choose to go to RCCG, the last time i check i think Mimiko is a Muslim, Well i would rather they go to obatala or Sango or Ogun

let he that heareth, knoweth that 2015 was decided in the gov forum election.

^^ Exactly and that's why GEJ want his men to control both the PDPGF and NGF

Someone, somewhere is definitely not saying the truth, I think Mimiko needs to talk now or never!

Demdem: Wonderful speech from Amaechi. So mimiko voted

RUBBISH

I so much like Ameachi, he waited for all of them to do there yeye and childish meeting and ranting finish before him come out hahaha. oya make all the Governors come and talk if them no vote starting from Akpabio,Jang,Mimiko, etc

figment232: RUBBISH

What is the rubbish about the comment dint he vote?

Front page please Mod

Desola: Is it any surprise that most of these crooks including their oga at the top all worship at the Redeemed Church?

Is it still mind boggling why Adeboye refused to speak on the issues bedeviling the country?

+1000

Demdem:

ur kind cant see any sense in such. Its understandable.

Don't mind that yeye person jare. Team Ameachi

bashy_demy: I so much like Ameachi, he waited for all of them to do there yeye and childish meeting and ranting finish before him come out hahaha. oya make all the Governors come and talk if them no vote starting from Akpabio,Jang,Mimiko, etc

Don't mind Akpabio and his gang of riggers...

Amechi is saying the truth but let him quote where in their constitution where guardlines for elections was provide cos u cant conduct an election if ur constitution does not have provision fo it.so if ur conducting an election what are d guardlines

touch4mony: Amechi is saying the truth but let him quote where in their constitution where guardlines for elections was provide cos u cant conduct an election if ur constitution does not have provision fo it.so if ur conducting an election what are d guardlines

Then the hypocritIcal governors should have stood by their supposed constitution and unequivocally refused to vote. By conceding to the voting system, they accept it not only by implication but also by conduct.

touch4mony: Amechi is saying the truth but let him quote where in their constitution where guardlines for elections was provide cos u cant conduct an election if ur constitution does not have provision fo it.so if ur conducting an election what are d guardlines

Well you might be right but in a situation whereby we have more than one contestant and none of them want to step down for each other then what are they going to do? election and that is exactly what happened.

And Jesus wept. I can now see why christ wept. Amaechi's speech is a big challenge 4 d pro- Johnathan Governors.

I await there reaction to dis.

^^ Same here patiently waiting for there reaction haha.

Mimiko is an absolute disgrace

Ameachi is just making noise. The other govs have made their stand clear and have gone about their businesses. No one is going to waste time with Amaexhi. He should call a meeting f his governors, that is what the others are waiting for.

dayokanu: Mimiko is an absolute disgrace

He only reinforced what has been said about him; a shockingly dishonest 'odale' individual..The same treatment was meted out to him by this same pdp and people came to his rescue ,now he's one of the arrow heads of another onslaught against a single individual,same tactics.
I thought his opposition to acn is because he had better ideas and he wants to be his own man.no real man will queue behind a confused and incapable leader,I am ashamed of him.

^^ Exactly

When the same PDP used Agagu to take away his mandate was it not how Tinubu and co fought for him to regain it

Now the same thing PDP did to him, He is now doing to others

No wahala O ma ba eru e nibode

There is nothing more to be said, the guys voted and lost now they are telling us tales by beer light.

Desola: Is it any surprise that most of these crooks including their oga at the top all worship at the Redeemed Church?

Is it still mind boggling why Adeboye refused to speak on the issues bedeviling the country?

And they needed Adeboye to tell them stealing is not good, are you saying must of Nigerian politicians are Christians, what of the muslim crooks

Abeg face the koko of the matter joor

Mature reaction from Amaechi
Kudos

I wonder why this thread no enter FP, Moderators una dey bias oo

oya daddy adeboye...dem don call your church...dah mouth you no dey gree open must open today....carry your bible come swear for amaechi and mimiko....buh which parish dem go use sef

Result so far;
GEJ/Akpabio/Jang = 1
Rotimi Amaechi = 2