Monimatic:
The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that contrary to President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim, the President is not interested in a free and fair election.

Amaechi, who was reacting to soldiers’ occupation of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium ahead of the Jonathan’s political campaign in the state on Wednesday, said the action of the President was an indication that he (Jonathan) was opposed to democratic norms.

The governor, who spoke in Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday, explained that it was wrong for President Jonathan to order soldiers to take over the state-owned stadium, even when approval was not given by the state government.

He argued that a President should have respected the position of the state government in an ideal federation, particularly after telling the Peoples Democratic Party to use the Liberation Stadium.

Amaechi said, “Why is the President insisting on using the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium after we have told the PDP that work is currently going on there? It is unfortunate that the President is preaching one thing and doing another thing.

“If the President is truly interested in the conduct of a free and fair election, why did he order armed soldiers to forcefully take over a state government-owned facility when it was not given to him or the PDP?

“Why should a President elected in a democratic election, serving under a democratic dispensation order soldiers to take over a state-owned stadium? In an ideal federation, the President is supposed to respect our position, essentially after we asked them to use the Liberation Stadium at Elekahia, in Port Harcourt City.”

In a related development, the state PDP Chairman, Mr. Felix Obuah, confirmed the party’s readiness to use the Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium on Wednesday.

Obuah said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Jerry Needam, that the reason given by Amaechi on why he refused the party’s request to use the stadium was unacceptable.

The state PDP chairman argued that the stadium was built with state funds, maintaining that the facility was only conceptualised when Amaechi was a member of the PDP.

He, however, challenged the governor to name any capital project that he implemented since he defected to the APC in November 2013.

Obuah told members and supporters of the PDP to turn out in their large number to welcome the presidential campaign train in continuation of President Jonathan’s bid to earn a second term.

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-not-interested-in-free-polls-amaechi/

talktimi:
please have mercy I beg of you

JEITO:
You disrespected your own office by refusing to allow them use the stadium as a civilised man should. So they took it by force. This shows that power pass power.

ayokunlei:


aside that you talked like a mugu, u need prayer and special deliverance.
You seems to be lost patapata. . .
You said what Amaechi did was bad, Are u expecting a President to be begging the governor b4 he can use the Stadium?
Maybe u dont know, Politics and Power are interconnected. Amaechi played politics, and The President used Power, I dont blame you, u sound like a learner.
May God touch ur sense of reasoning, amin.

OrlandoOwoh:

Jonathan should exercise his power as C-in-C in Borno before Boko Haram.

nairalife2013: Well, learn to respect higher authority first! Now teach dat to your sons never to be like u!

JEITO: You disrespected your own office by refusing to allow them use the stadium as a civilised man should. So they took it by force. This shows that power pass power.

I hope your lodge in Abuja is still in a good condition after all the meetings held there because come May 29th, Rivers state will be too hot for you o.

Tekzyflex: Hahahahahahahah! See who's talking of respect of office. The tin pain am sha!

Swizdoe:
Even though I'm not a fan of gej and his administration but for amaechi to have tried to deny him is the height of insolence.
A Yoruba proverb says " Ai fini pe ni, ai feyan pe yan, lo mu ara oko ara e san bante wolu. "

joeboy03:


So, as a citizen of Nigeria and the C-in-C, does he not reserve the right to use the same facility which Ameachi and his cohorts have used 2 times, even when they went as humble as seeking permission? There is no how u can defend Amaechi's action cos it was outrightly wrong, what is wrong is wrong and no amount of rationalising would make it right.


If you were truly sincere, you would see the folly, pride and arrogance in Amaechi's actions and you would condemn such accordingly. You cannot always defend the wrongs of these politicians.

Eluwilussit:


Your reasoning is twisted. Think straight without bias. Jonathan doesn't wanna borrow or use the stadium. The Rivers State PDP members want to host their presidential rally there. Are they not entitled to the same treatment as APC? Whereas APC have used the same stadium twice, PDP members in Rivers State are being denied the use of the facility by Amaechi. Why?

The stadium belongs to Rivers people, irrespective of political affiliations or religion. Amaechi is the governor of Rivers State and not that of a few APC members. He should be seen to be fair to all. It is his duty to accommodate all.

Dammyllionaire:


Do you even know the meaning of federalism? Obviously, you and your illiterate cohorts liking and sharing your post dnt know the meaning because if you do, you will never sit to write this trash on social media... We are in a FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVT and the president should not have any power over the governor and the state properties. Just imagine Obama claiming right of New York property and using the US Military to seize the property from the state that own it.

Bro, use your God given brain and go and read more about federalism better. Thanks.

Closedoor:


A governor has no right to say no to the President...imagine the prime minister saying no to the queen?...ok let's use nigeria..can a Local government chairman say no to a governor?...in nigeria here?...niccur rest!!!..we in naija..

Demdem:


When they used it, contractors were not on site. The request from pdp to use the facility is less than 2weeks and already contractors were already on site.
Soldiers went in and chased them away so the state was being truthful.
The govt gave this credible reasons and went further to give the pdp another good alternative.
Only a fool or someone with sinister agenda will ignore the liberation stadium at the heart of the city to a yet to be completed stadium at the outskirts of the city.

redcliff:


As daft as they come....smh

joeboy03:


Are u in PH? Can you provide pictures of work in progress inside the facility as at today, not an old picture?


Yes I am in ph. Where u wan take pictures when soldiers have taken over?

Besides, even if truly work is currently in progress in the facility, the contractor could be instructed to go on a break just for a day, since the event is only going to last a day, afterwards they could continue with their job, it is that simple, just to fulfill all righteousness and avoid the avoidable.

It's not done that way. It takes days to mobilise to site and days to demobilise. All these all together cost money and depending on scope of work, millions of naira. Believe u me, rivers is at a loss here because the contractor will definitely tell the state to compensate him because of it.


Or do u not perceive the concerted effort of the governor to frustrate the PDP from utilising the facility? Is it not obvious?

The primary reason is not to frustrate neither is it to prevent them from converging. If this is so, would he have provided liberation stadium for them? Do u live in ph? Which is more accessible to the people? The liberation stadium amaechi offered or the new stadium under construction?
The only obvious fact here is pdp thuggery.
Nothing stops them from using the safe, secured, more accessible liberation stadium which is also a state property.

Dammyllionaire:


Do you even know the meaning of federalism? Obviously, you and your illiterate cohorts liking and sharing your post dnt know the meaning because if you do, you will never sit to write this trash on social media... We are in a FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVT and the president should not have any power over the governor and the state properties. Just imagine Obama claiming right of New York property and using the US Military to seize the property from the state that own it.

Bro, use your God given brain and go and read more about federalism better. Thanks.

joeboy03:


Are u in PH? Can you provide pictures of work in progress inside the facility as at today, not an old picture?


Besides, even if truly work is currently in progress in the facility, the contractor could be instructed to go on a break just for a day, since the event is only going to last a day, afterwards they could continue with their job, it is that simple, just to fulfill all righteousness and avoid the avoidable.


Or do u not perceive the concerted effort of the governor to frustrate the PDP from utilising the facility? Is it not obvious?

Walspring:
Its is only my nation that we don't have respect for our president.

ayokunlei:


may God heal you. If Goodluck doesnt act on Amaechi, u wld hv called him a clueless being, now He did d needful, you are still hating on Him.
Since you know alot about Government, If u were to be Mr President, how wld u act?