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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live (833 Views)
Court Orders DSS To Produce Nnamdi Kanu On November 23 - Thisday Live / Amaechi And Wife Loved Up After His Ministerial Screening(photos) / PHOTOS : Old Pics Of Amaechi And Wike Back Then (2) (3) (4)
Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by Episteme2(m): 9:13am On Oct 24, 2015 |
Fellow Nigerians, if you did not watch the much-anticipated
and long-delayed Ministerial screening of Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, last Thursday, October 22, 2015, at the
Senate Chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly, you
definitely missed a high drama. There was no way I would
have missed the live broadcast of that historic event. Thanks
to technology, my wife and I stayed glued to Channels TV
transmitting all the way to us in London.
We received many calls from well-meaning Nigerians who
were anxious to see the cup pass over Amaechi’s head.
Social media platforms were instantly on overdrive. Twitter
in particular was on fire. The Rock Star of Nigerian politics
was on stage and the entire country was at a standstill. I was
very agitated for several reasons. In particular, I didn’t want
the world to view Nigeria as a country of ingrates who would
rather destroy and bury the heroes of their struggle instead
of celebrating them.
Right from the time former Governor Amaechi’s name
surfaced on the President’s list of Ministerial nominees
which was sent to The Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola
Saraki, it was obvious Amaechi had been sent, inadvertently,
to the Hyenas’ den. True, Amaechi himself had been given
the moniker of the Lion of the Niger Delta by his fervent and
vociferous supporters but no one could envisage the
outcome of a wrestle between the kings of the jungle. Many
commentators had opined that President Muhammadu
Buhari should have made life easier for his former
Campaign Manager by offering him a job that needed no
screening from anyone.
The scenario could not have been otherwise. Amaechi
undoubtedly was a major catalyst that catapulted the
Change Movement into power at the centre. It is only natural
that the victims of such monumental defeat would neither
forget nor forgive their principal tormentor in a jiffy. For
them it was the first and best opportunity to have their
pound of flesh and pay Amaechi back in kind. It was not
surprising that the screening session was initially riotous but
for the avuncular carriage and confident and astute handling
of proceedings by The Senate President who calmed things
down.
The entrance of Amaechi into the hallowed Chamber was
grand. He looked regal and royal in his traditional Niger
Delta attire. His confidence level was high and palpable.
After the usual traditional bows, he took his place at the
podium. The Senate President then set the ball rolling by
asking Amaechi to introduce himself. Trust the consummate
politician, one of Nigeria’s most effervescent leaders read
from a well-scripted paper and sold himself powerfully to
the influential Senators. He was friendly and conciliatory.
He killed it by recognising the three Senators representing
Rivers State. The import of that was that he was able to
demonstrate how they were friends once upon a time. It was
a masterstroke that thawed the frozen atmosphere and
eased the incredible tension in the Senate Chamber.
Amaechi spoke eloquently about his political trajectory from
his Student Unionist days to the present and outlined his
outstanding achievements in the years he has spent as a
politician. Everything appeared to be going smoothly until
the moment for question and answer and then the friction
that had been the root cause of so much seeming strife
erupted momentarily before fizzling out.
However, it was almost an anti-climax when the Minority
Leader of the Senate, former Governor Godswill Akpabio
said his caucus had resolved not to ask Amaechi any
question since the report of the Senate Committee
investigating the allegations of corruption levelled against
Amaechi was yet to be discussed. Very few observers and
political commentators had expected the PDP to react to the
screening of Amaechi in this manner.
Many conspiracy theorists had predicted a rigorous, strident
and acrimonious question and answer session for Amaechi
from amongst the PDP Senators. For them to take the path
that Senator Akpabio had espoused smirked of great intrigue
and suggested that there was a hidden agenda which would
shortly unfold. The solid block of 49 PDP legislators against a
fractious, disunited and slender APC majority loomed large
in the minds of most analysts and suggested that when the
time came to vote Amaechi would be played out.
But, mercifully and smartly, the APC Senators as a
surprisingly and remarkable cohesive unit played a fast one
when some of its Senators thereafter asked Amaechi some
cogent questions. The PDP Senatorial boycott, if one can call
it even that, was instantly shown to be dead on arrival. I
loved the intervention of Senator Gbenga Ashafa whose
question provided a veritable platform for Amaechi to
defend himself against the spate of allegations of
corruption. Of course, Amaechi said he was in fact never
indicted by any judicial panel and that he was ready to place
the relevant papers before the Senators to demonstrate this.
After about 50 minutes of intense grilling, Amaechi was
asked to go.
As Amaechi walked out of the chamber, the whole chamber
was clearly electrified. His multitude of fans waited outside.
Their joy knew no bounds as they erupted into an orgy of
celebration which included much hailing of the valiant,
victorious warrior and spontaneous singing. Though I had
gauged and seen Amaechi’s rapidly rising popularity on
social media, I did not expect anything close to what I saw
displayed on live TV. The love of fans like me was very deep
and I saw more enthusiastic ones on television. I received
the pictures within minutes and posted them on Instagram,
Facebook and Twitter.
I had known and predicted that the seeming victimisation of
Amaechi was going to draw attention and sympathy to him.
The libellous attacks on him in the last couple weeks were
horrendous and sufficient to cow any weak personality.
Anyone in doubt should visit Twitter. Not only was he
viciously scandalised and abused, but anyone who tried to
defend him was also verbally assaulted and brutalised. I
became a major target of voltrons, as we call them, and all
manner of obvious hirelings descended on me trying to sully
and undermine my support for Amaechi.
They simply descended on Amaechi and his most visible and
influential friends like locusts. Some of these guys used very
foul and uncouth language including insulting my dead
parents. But this got me more determined. I knew for sure
that all they wanted to achieve was to bully us off
cyberspace and have the opportunity to mount their
scurrilous campaign of calumny against Amaechi,
unhindered and undisturbed. However, on our part, we
intensified the celebration of Amaechi and his stellar
achievements and this served to win us more confident and
ardent supporters.
This special tribute is to put on record the reason why some
of us are quite zealous about Amaechi. It is impossible to
meet Amaechi and not feel his deep ardour for Nigeria. His
style is simple but classy. Most times his dressing is usually
understated. As Governor, he drove himself most times. He
believes more in action than glamour.
Our relationship was that of mutual love at first sight. I had
visited his office over ten years ago when he was Speaker of
the Rivers State House of Assembly. He sounded very
intelligent, smart and passionate about the development of
Nigeria in general and Rivers State in particular. He also
appreciated my zeal for Nigeria and its success. We
exchanged numbers and spoke a couple of times thereafter.
Subsequently, on one occasion he came to Ghana for a
conference of Parliamentarians. He got in touch and I
invited him over to my house for lunch. I was greatly
honoured when he arrived with the then Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Bello Masari and many
others. Our relationship blossomed from there on.
Somehow, I had a feeling that Amaechi was going to go far in
politics and I watched and followed him with keen interest
and rapt attention. His fearless nature was a much needed
ingredient in politics. After spending two terms as Speaker of
the Rivers State House of Assembly, he made an attempt to
run the Governorship race but encountered countless
obstacles that were erected by powerbrokers. It appeared
that he had fallen at the first hurdle and had not won his
Party Primary primaries and so could not contest the
General Elections. Things got dangerously bad at a time that
he had to flee to Ghana for his dear life and that of his
family. But mysteriously and miraculously Amaechi won his
case at the Supreme Court and he was declared Governor
without having contested the election. He wasted no time in
attributing this unprecedented achievement to God.
Unlike many who would forget their antecedents, Amaechi
never forgot his humble beginnings. He demystified power
and bonded well with the people of Rivers State. Most of his
enemies were members of the privilegentsia. He made
education, healthcare, infrastructural development, job
creation, agriculture, power generation and so on a priority
and immediately sought to enhance them and, thus, the
quality of life of ordinary people in Rivers State. The quality
of his work was impressive and commendable. I visited
some of his projects during the course of his tenure as
Governor and could not believe what I saw. My admiration
for him quadrupled.
The situation that led him to abandon PDP for APC was
tragic but divine. President Goodluck Jonathan lost his
second term bid, in advance, the day he allowed Amaechi
and his fellow Governors and others to leave the PDP. I
remember asking Amaechi if he thought his group could
take on an incumbent African President and win. His answer
was an unequivocal, Yes. He said he was ready for any
fallout from their decision including harassment and
victimisation by the then ruling Party, PDP. He stuck to his
guns to the very end and remained unmoved and unbowed
by all manner of brickbat and missiles hurled at him.
Amaechi had also made up his mind from DAY ONE to
support the presidential ambition of General Muhammadu
Buhari which was almost turning to a mirage after three
excruciating attempts. Though he had a very soft-spot for
then Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and a very
high regard for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Amaechi never at any
time prevaricated on his decision to support Buhari. At this
time he was a formidable lone ranger as others chose to pit
their tents elsewhere until gradually they were won over by
the popularity and appeal of the person and message of
President Buhari.
When Buhari later appointed him the Director-General of his
Presidential Campaign, many had argued that the job was
beneath a serving Governor but Amaechi said emphatically
that he was ready, able and willing to embark on the
arduous task. He argued that nothing was too much to
sacrifice for the salvation of Nigeria. During the campaign
there were rumours that Amaechi was dictatorial and that
he did not carry many members of his team along, he had a
convincing answer to this criticism. He said he would not
wait indefinitely for those who did not understand the
concept of time and money. He combined well with Dr
Bukola Saraki to mobilise heavily for Buhari. They were able
to secure the support of many entrepreneurs who felt
President Goodluck Jonathan was safer for them but later
agreed to accept the change mantra. Other political leaders
like the inimitable, resourceful and redoubtable national
leader, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been in the forefront
of the team and took the campaign to another level.
For me the biggest contribution of Amaechi is how he placed
national interest above sectional and primordial sentiments.
History would have high regard for him in the future, and
generations unborn would read about his gallant efforts, if
and when this latest gamble of a Buhari Presidency pays off.
This is what has acquired for him today a cult followership at
home and abroad. The deafening ovation he received at the
National Assembly precincts only a couple of days ago was
therefore a token of our appreciation for him being a truly
exceptional Nigerian.
My sincere wish is for God to grant him more wisdom and
the spirit of forgiveness now and in the future. Some have
wronged him no doubt just like he must also have wronged
others but he must demonstrate that he has risen above the
disappointment and trauma engendered by such before God
and man. There is no sweeter revenge than God taking up
your fight all the time and ensuring that you are victorious.
Amaechi’s story is a salutary lesson in this regard.
God bless Nigeria. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/amaechi-and-his-fanatical-fans/223600/ 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by lyricalpontiff(m): 9:18am On Oct 24, 2015 |
Correct |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by Singingbae(m): 9:41am On Oct 24, 2015 |
K |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by ikaboy: 9:49am On Oct 24, 2015 |
Dele |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by jerrywool: 9:49am On Oct 24, 2015 |
thrash |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by idu1(m): 10:47am On Oct 24, 2015 |
Nice one. |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by Episteme2(m): 11:41am On Oct 24, 2015 |
Singingbae:Was this all you could say. I guess you didn't read the post. |
Re: Amaechi And His Fanatical Fans By Dele Momodu - Thisday Live by Episteme2(m): 4:24pm On Oct 24, 2015 |
Is it a win win for Amaechi?
|
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