Blames President’s wife for
‘resuscitating’ kidnapping in PH
•PDP can only win in 2015 through
rigging
•Amaechi has lost control, says
Minister
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers
State has given a fresh insight into
why he fell out with President
Goodluck Jonathan and the First
Lady, Dame Patience.
The governor, who doubles as the
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors
Forum (NGF), told reporters at an
interactive session in Port Harcourt
on Friday night that Mrs. Jonathan
wanted to dictate to him how to run
the affairs of the state but that he
refused to dance to her tunes.
Mrs. Jonathan, like Amaechi, hail
from Rivers State.
Their disagreement is at the core of
the current political crisis in the state
with the State House of Assembly
shut down following the polarisation
of its members along the line of those
for or against the governor.
The minority six members against the
governor are widely believed to be
receiving encouragement from the
Presidency.
He said: “The wife of the President
wanted to macro-manage
governance in Rivers State and I said
no, you cannot. I was elected. If I fail,
they will not say the wife of the
President failed; they will say
Governor Amaechi failed. I am
accountable to God, men and women
of Rivers State.
“The wife of the President was not
elected the Governor of Rivers State. I
was elected. I am not in any way the
wife of the President. I am the
Governor of Rivers State, married to
Judith Amaechi.
“I am telling you why they want to
crucify me. This fight is about
change. It is about good governance.
It is about accountability. They do not
like Rivers State. They hate us. We are
losing. Tell me one thing that Rivers
State has gained from being part of
the South South under Goodluck
Jonathan’s Presidency.”
The governor, who was elected on the
ticket of the PDP but defected along
with four other governors to the All
Progressives Congress (APC) recently
also blamed Mrs. Jonathan for
resuscitating militancy and
kidnapping in the state.
“By the time the wife of President
Jonathan brought out the militants,
we had almost got to zero point of no
kidnapping in Port Harcourt. Where
we were witnessing kidnapping were
villages near Bayelsa and Abia
States. We were thinking of how to
go there with military surge, to chase
the criminals back to their bases,” he
said.
He said his principled stand has
earned him scorn from the First lady
who, according to him, is bent on
removing him from office using
government power.
“She also held a Security Council
meeting with them in Otuoke
(President Jonathan’s hometown in
Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa State),
declaring that they would use federal
‘mighty’ (instead of might).But we
have God Almighty.
“Is there any governor that has
passed through what I passed
through that is still alive? I am still
talking as the Governor of Rivers
State because there is God. They can
use their federal ‘mighty,’ but I
depend on the Almighty God.”
He said that President Jonathan has
not helped matters by trying to
under-develop Rivers at the expense
of his (Jonathan’s) home state of
Bayelsa.
He cited the Zonal Air Force originally
earmarked for Rivers by the late
President Umaru Yar’Adua but which
was relocated to Bayelsa and the
transfer of Soku oil wells to Bayelsa.
“The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas
Company (on Bonny Island in Rivers
State) is even the worst. The
members of the board and
management of the NLNG came to
me and pleaded with me to speak
with the NNPC (Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation) to allow
them to do Train Seven in Bonny, that
will employ 10,000 Rivers people,” he
said.
“I approached the NNPC and I went to
the Petroleum Ministry. I do not want
to call names, because most of them
are my friends. They told me no. I
thought it was a joke. That time,
there was no quarrel between me and
President Jonathan, because we had
just finished elections (2011) and we
were still chummy-chummy.
“I met with President Jonathan to
kindly speak with officials of the
NNPC and the Petroleum Ministry to
allow NLNG to build Train Seven.
President Jonathan said he wanted
them to finish Brass LNG in his
Bayelsa State, before they could build
Bonny NLNG’s Train Seven. Mr.
President said no and that he directed
the officials of the NNPC and the
Petroleum Ministry to say what they
said.
“Mr. President said right from when
he was the Deputy Governor of
Bayelsa State, he had been trying to
get the Brass LNG and wants to get it
now that he is the President. You
cannot force investors. So, we must
wait for Bayelsa State before Rivers
State can grow.
“The implication is that Rivers State
will not grow until Goodluck
Jonathan finishes his Presidency. Is
that a good government? Is that a
good party? Should I remain there? If
I was lying, they would have replied
me. What is Southsouth President?
There is only one thing in politics,
which is interest. You cannot play
politics of Nigeria with religion or
ethnicity.”
He added: “They took Soku oil wells
from us and they took 41 oil wells
from Etche to Abia State. Should I
remain in that kind of party that is
denying Rivers State its resources?
“When I said they could not account
for N2.3 trillion for oil subsidy, they
said what is your source? I was in a
meeting with President Jonathan.
Nigerians never knew that governors
went on strike for three months. We
refused to collect our monthly
allocations, because we told
President Jonathan that under
Yar’Adua late Umaru under Gen.
Obasanjo (former President
Olusegun), the total oil subsidy was
N300 billion.
“The first year of President Goodluck
Jonathan, in 2011, oil subsidy
became N2.3 trillion. Did we buy
more machines, more human beings
in Nigeria, we had 24 hours power
supply, things have changed in
Nigeria, that we now consume N2.3
trillion from N300 billion?”
He also denied subverting the
administration of a fellow
Southsoutherner.
His words: “Who is a South South
President? For me, a Southsouth
President is the man who feels for me
and cares.
“For them to be doing the East-West
Road (from Oron in Akwa Ibom State,
through Ogoniland in Rivers State to
Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ogun
States, terminating in Lagos State), I
had to fight the Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs (Elder Godsday Orubebe)
.
“They said they would borrow money.
They borrowed money and are now
doing the East-West Road. The
Southsouth President should have
borrowed the money since 2011 that
he came in and completed the East-
West Road.
“Unfortunately, Yar’Adua is not alive
to speak for himself. I was part of the
people who sat down with Yar’Adua
to start the designing of coastal rail
from Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers,
Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ogun
States, up to Lagos State. Have you
heard of it again?”
He recalled a meeting he had with the
late President Yar’Adua who, he said,
asked what the Federal Government
could do for Rivers State to stem
militancy.
Amaechi said he suggested the
provision of a skills’ acquisition
centre and the then President
proceeded to award contracts for the
project to ‘prominent Rivers people’
only for President Jonathan, on
replacing Yar’Adua, to sack the
contractors.
The contracts, he added, were then
re-awarded to other people.
“For four years, the Federal
Government’s skills’ acquisition
centre is yet to be completed. It is not
about the contractor not working.
They are not funding the contractor,
because the project is in Rivers
State,” he said.
Amaechi said that the PDP is fast
drowning ahead of the 2015
elections.
According to him, more of PDP
governors will defect to the APC and
that the PDP could only win in 2015
by rigging.
He described the APC as the change
agent Nigeria needs at this point in
its history.
He said that by March 2014 the APC
would have become the majority
party in the Senate.
“Amaechi said, We are gradually
forming government. We have taken
over the House of Representatives.
Before March (2014), we will take
over the Senate. Just watch out.
“The pressure will mount so much
that they (Senators) will move from
the PDP into APC. For now, it is
narrowing down closely everyday and
we are counting. Watch out before
March, if we will not have the number
we are looking for.”
He dismissed the Nyesom Wike-led
Grassroots Development Initiative
(GDI) in the state as irrelevant and its
members as hungry people.
Wike, the Supervising Minister of
Education is the arrowhead of the
opposition to Amaechi.
Amaechi said of the group: “I do not
talk about those people who call
themselves GDI. For me, they are not
important, because that is not the
fight. Those people do not even have
the same agenda as the President.
Their agenda is they cannot survive
poverty.
“What they (GDI members) are trying
to do is how to win Rivers State and
share the money. They are not
fighting for President Jonathan. What
is driving them mad about Obio/
Akpor LG Council? I did not know that
individuals working in my
government were sharing Obio/Akpor
LG council’s money and they were
not ashamed.”
He debunked reports that he had
abandoned his wife, Judith, for
another woman, saying: “I read a
story that I impregnated Prof. Wole
Soyinka’s (Nobel laureate’s)
daughter. That she is living in my
house and my wife has ran away. The
story was bad. I had to call back my
wife, so that they would know that
she had not divorced me. She was
not planning to do Christmas in
Nigeria.
“She (Judith Amaechi) is back to see
her husband, spend time with the
husband, do some of her functions as
wife of the governor, so that they will
know that I am still married. Not just
that I am still married, I am a
Catholic.
“My marriage is as solid as a
Catholic marriage. There is
absolutely no room for divorce. What
you have is room for annulment.
There is only one ground for
annulment of marriage in Catholic
Church that is the marriage never took
place. That means the woman either
deceived him to marry her or the man
deceived her into marrying him. Any
other thing is called for better, for
worse.”
The political camp of the Supervising
Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom
Wike, Grassroots Development
Initiative (GDI), said yesterday that it
was wrong of Amaechi to refer to its
members as hungry people.
Speaking on telephone from Lagos,
the Secretary-General of the group,
Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, who doubles
as the Rivers Publicity Secretary of
the PDP, said the governor is
confused and incapable of delivering
the State to the APC in 2015.
He said: “It is not new to us that
Amaechi is saying GDI members are
hungry. Amaechi’s father was not the
Managing Director of Shell or Agip or
owner of any bank in Nigeria or West
Africa. He is of a humble beginning.
“It baffles me whenever Amaechi says
GDI members are hungry. It is
unbecoming of a governor.
“Amaechi has lost control of Rivers
State. It is unfortunate that Amaechi
could describe PDP as chop-I-chop
party. PDP made him Speaker of
Rivers State House of Assembly and
Rivers Governor. He is an ingrate. He
is involved in anti-party activities.
“PDP is not a drowning party.
Amaechi, now a member of the APC,
cannot win any election in his Ubima
Ward 8 (Ikwerre LGA). Amaechi is
involved in a show of shame.
Amaechi cannot deceive Rivers
people.”
He said that Rivers State would never
belong to the opposition, stressing
that the PDP would continue to win
the Niger Delta State.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/how-patience-tried-to-hijack-rivers-by-amaechi/

Amaechi is getting frustrated each day. This is the sign of a drowning man.

Lolz. Are u sure he said that?

Amaechi and his selfish quest for power. APC will never be the Solution that Nigerians are yearning for.
APC = All Past/Present Criminals

Amaechi should learn to keep quiet..

I love his work in Rivers State, but he should stop being the arrow head in the opposition. Just keep quiet and let things play out. It would be difficult to deliver Rivers State to any other party and that's a fact. What hurts me most is that the opposition in Rivers State are just wolves after their own selfish interests.

2015 will not be a child's play affair. I pray Amaechi survives it, because if APC fails, the PDP will come after him so hard that it will shock me if he does not end up in jail.

Okija_juju: Amaechi should learn to keep quiet..

I love his work in Rivers State, but he should stop being the arrow head in the opposition. Just keep quiet and let things play out. It would be difficult to deliver Rivers State to any other party and that's a fact. What hurts me most is that the opposition in Rivers State are just wolves after their own selfish interests.

2015 will not be a child's play affair. I pray Amaechi survives it, because if APC fails, the PDP will come after him so hard that it will shock me if he does not end up in jail.

U've said it all...

Bros,by d power of Almighty God,he will surely survive it. Touch not my annointing and do my prophets no harm. Am nt 4rm SS,bt av heard so much about his massive capital project in rivers..Amaechi is good man and Lord will continue 2 guard him..NO SHAKING rotel!!

edo3: Bros,by d power of Almighty God,he will surely survive it. Touch not my annointing and do my prophets no harm. Am nt 4rm SS,bt av heard so much about his massive capital project in rivers..Amaechi is good man and Lord will continue 2 guard him..NO SHAKING rotel!!

Pls hold it sir!!!!


There is nothing like a "good man" in politics.
Politics is dirty and good people cant survive it. If Amaechi is good, he should be history by now

This guy just talks...and talks....and talks......and talks...

He's like a wind-up doll.

Just compare Ameachi's statement with facts and coherence and the GDI spokesperson's demeaning defence characteristics of Jonathan's cohorts. This man is saying that for the fact that Jonathan is fighting him should not result in denying Rivers people their right, simple.

nofij:
Pls hold it sir!!!!


There is nothing like a "good man" in politics.
Politics is dirty and good people cant survive it. If Amaechi is good, he should be history by now

Can you imagine! Go and bring animals to rule over you then. Can you compare a sick late Yar'adua to lame Jonathan because politics is dirty?

ROSSIKE: This guy just talks...and talks....and talks......and talks...

He's like a wind-up doll.

Poor Rosske, so you have leant how to regain your lost voice?

The worst decision Jonathan ever made in life - Is to pick a fight with Amaechi. He is a man of the people for goodness sake.

Amaechi, God bless and protect you. Sai APC!

[img]http://1.1.1.1/bmi/www.naijacenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Amaechi.jpg[/img]

Okija_juju: Amaechi should learn to keep quiet..

I love his work in Rivers State, but he should stop being the arrow head in the opposition. Just keep quiet and let things play out. It would be difficult to deliver Rivers State to any other party and that's a fact. What hurts me most is that the opposition in Rivers State are just wolves after their own selfish interests.

2015 will not be a child's play affair. I pray Amaechi survives it, because if APC fails, the PDP will come after him so hard that it will shock me if he does not end up in jail.

Whether APC wins or not, nothing will happen to Amaechi. If Sylva who threatened the Life of Mr. President and committed several treasonable acts is still a free man why do you think Amaechi will suffer after 2015??

Wsdm:
Can you imagine! Go and bring animals to rule over you then. Can you compare a sick late Yar'adua to lame Jonathan because politics is dirty?

Seriously speaking, one of the very few politicians i respect till date is the late Yaradua because unlike most politicians he was sincere to an extent (telling us that the election that brought him to power wasnt credible is and declaring his assets publicly) but that doesnt change the fact that he aint no saint.
I dnt want to sound religious but i think that is enough. No other politician in Nigeria stands out as much for me. Dont ask me why Oshiomole hasnt left mother earth despite attacks on his life.


Be cool bro