Why I Joined The APC – Governor Amaechi

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the overall interest to protect Rivers people.

Amaechi also said that Rivers State has suffered neglect under the Jonathan administration, and that part of the decision to join the APC was because the issues raised by G7 governors were not resolved by President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP.

Amaechi spoke with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport shortly on arrival from Abuja, Tuesday

He said: “Yes, we have joined APC after the meeting we had with Buhari, Tinubu and the interim Chairman of APC.”

“The governors met on Monday and decided that we must meet with the APC leadership and when we met with the APC leadership, it was important we took a position and the position we took is for the good of our democracy and ensure that Nigeria moves forward. We can’t continue the way we are, where we are.

“The picture painted by the PDP was as if we were begging to come back to PDP and issues were not being looked into, issues were not being resolved and it’s important that we resolve it one way or the other”.

“I think that what has happened is that what was then new PDP decided that it’s important that we move into APC and position ourselves for the next election”.

“Rivers State must know that for me to have taken that decision, I had looked at the general interests of Rivers people. I was not elected to lead Nigeria, I was elected to lead Rivers State and I had looked at the interests of Rivers people and have seen that these interests were not protected in PDP. I have seen the fact that we are losing our oil wells in Etche, in the Kalabari areas and that the more they continue to pilfer these oil wells, the more we will continue to lose our wealth”, he said.

Despite his defection to the APC, Amaechi said he still holds President Jonathan in high esteem and has no personal quarrel with him.

“The President and I have no personal quarrel, it’s important we put that in perspective. All the issues were issues that affect Rivers people, were issues that affect Nigerians and I am a Nigerian, I have to address those issues…he is my President and I respect him. I respect his office, respect him as a person, respect the fact that he’s older but then as the elected governor of Rivers State, I have the responsibility to lead Rivers State”.

"If you look at what is going on, the federal government is not able to fund the states anymore. They say oil theft but oil theft is not enough reason for which we cannot fund ourselves.”

He drew the attention to the Port Harcourt International Airport, which the Federal Government had long abandoned because of its inability to fund the project.

“As per development in Rivers State, we are about to commission about 300 primary schools, we are about to commission another 70 health centres to add to the 60 we commissioned before. We are about to commission the Kelsey Harrison hospital at Emenike Street, there is a new one inside Rivers State University of Science and Technology Campus, there is a partnership between us and NDDC for which we have paid NDDC about N960 million for the mother and child hospital and NDDC is expected to bring about N900 million to make it N1.8 billion for the hospital. The stadium is about to be completed, so development is actually going on. We are working”.

Inspector General of Police Visits Rivers State, Shuns Governor Amaechi

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, without visiting the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Abubakar was in the state to inaugurate 100 Prado Sports Utility Vans donated to the nine Niger Delta state Police commands by the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The IGP also did not address officers and men of the command, who had waited for several hours to hear from their boss.

However, the state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, addressed officers and men of the Police. He thanked them for coming out enmasse.

It was at that point that security operatives, especially those in their ceremonial uniforms, who had waited to mount a guard of honour, left in disappointment.

Also, journalists, who waited anxiously to get Abubakar’s views on the crisis rocking the state and the controversy surrounding the decision of the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, to ban rallies, left in disappointment.

A top government official in the state had told The PUNCH that the IGP did not pay a courtesy visit to the governor when he visited the city few months ago.

The official, who preferred to be anonymous, recalled that the Deputy Inspector General of Police paid a courtesy call on the governor .

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said there was nothing to comment on over the refusal of the IGP to visit the governor.

Iyofor said the decision of the police boss to visit or not to visit the governor was entirely his own (IGP’s).

On the part of the Police, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Angela Agabe, explained that the IGP only went to inaugurate some vehicles at the Police Primary School in Port Harcourt.

Agabe stated that although, she could not say whether the IGP was in a hurry or not, she said Abubakar did not even meet the officers and men, who were waiting at the command.

"Even the IG did not see the officers and men that waited in the command. I cannot say if he was in a hurry, but he (Abubakar) only went to the Police Primary School, where he inaugurated some vehicles and later moved from there to the Airforce Base," Agabe explained.


PUNCH

Nigeria's First Lady Patience Jonathan Opens Up on Rivers' Fracas, Says: I Cannot Fight Amaechi Because He Is My Son

Dame Patience Jonathan First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has finally opened up on the genesis of the political crisis rocking Rivers State, Nigeria.

According to her, it started four years ago. 

The president's wife who spoke at the Presidential Villa during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, by 16 bishops from the South-South geo-political zone, said Gov. Amaechi is her son and he shouldn't let outsiders use him against his own blood.

See how the News Agency of Nigeria reports it:
    The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, said in Abuja on Wednesday that she had committed the ongoing crisis in Rivers to prayer and that crisis started as far back as four years ago.
    Rivers has been embroiled in a political crisis which culminated in a free for all at the House of Assembly last week, with some members injured.
    Jonathan said this during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa by 16 bishops from the South-South geo-political zone.
    "Rivers state issue is one thing I’ve committed to prayer because I believe there is nothing God cannot do. God restored me and I’ll do His work without the fear of man.
    "The truth will always remain the truth and what God ordains must come to pass and so Rivers issue is something we’ve handed over to God."

    The president’s wife said contrary to some reports, she had always mediated between Gov. Chibuike Amaechi and other parties in a crisis that began four years ago.
    "This matter started as far back as four years ago at Anyugubiri in Okrika when I begged him not to demolish a part of Okrika but (that he should) dialogue first with the people.
    "After that incident, he called the chairman of Okrika (local government) and sacked him for holding a reception in our honour; that boy was the first victim.
    "He also put my people on curfew for nine months. I called him and pleaded with him but he refused. Then I began to hear all sort of propaganda in the media against me; this is not the way.
    "I’ve never spoken about this issue but as men of God, I believe you’ll say the truth always because there are a lot of conflicting interests; some will hear one thing and say the exact opposite.
    "I also want you to know the genesis of this problem and pray that God touches Amaechi’s heart as per his hot temper because when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."

Patience Jonathan urged the parties involved in the crisis to help to resolve issues plaguing the state and not "whip up sentiments" that will aggravate the problem.
    "I appeal to Amaechi to sheathe his sword so that we can defend our state and this country with love, unity, patriotism and truth at all time.
    "Hebrews 12:14 urges us to embrace peace with all men without which, we cannot see God.

    "Amaechi is my son, I cannot fight him and I cannot kill him. He shouldn’t be used by outsiders against his own blood because this seat is vanity.

    "One day, no matter how long it takes, we will leave this seat. Power is not forever. This seat is vanity, others sat here and left so one day I’ll also leave and we will meet at home; so why should I fight him?
    "Let’s take it easy, face issues, leave non-existent matters, stop magnifying lies and respect our leaders and people in authority. Let’s give peace a chance," she said.

    Earlier, Bishop God-Do-Well Awomapara, Chairman, Niger Delta Bishops Forum, who led the delegation, said the visit was significant "in view of emerging situations in our region".
 

    "We are on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the Rivers issue and mediate where necessary."

Rivers Crisis: Police declare Chidi Lloyd wanted

The Rivers State Police Command has declared the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd wanted.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Angela Agabe made this known to newsmen during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.

She said, Chidi Lloyd was involved in a case of conspiracy, attempted murder and willful damage.
According to her, "The Rivers State Police Command has declared wanted, one honourable Chidi Lloyd, a native of Emohua, in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.
"About 37 years of age, he is the Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly. He was involved in a case of conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding, and willful damage on the 9th of July 2013."

 

Agabe also said the Inspector General of Police in collaboration with the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department, CID and the State Command are all investigating the allegations against Chidi Lloyd. She said Chidi Lloyd was declared wanted following his failure to honour an invitation given to him by the police.
"The crime is being investigated by a special team from the Inspector-General of Police in collaboration with the state Criminal Investigation Division, Rivers command.

"He was last seen at the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 9th of July 2013. All efforts to trace his whereabouts have so far proved abortive.”

Agabe later called on any member of the public who had any useful information about the whereabouts of Mr. Lloyd to contact the state police command or the Deputy Commissioner of police.

Meanwhile, the Legal Representative of Chidi Lloyd, Emenike Ebite has condemned the declaration of his client wanted by the police.

Emenike said it was the responsibility of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly to call for the arrest of any member of the Assembly that had flouted the rules.

However, in a contrary reaction, the PDP in Rivers State has praised the move by the state’s police command to prosecute Chidi Lloyd for alleged attempted murder.

The statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Rivers State PDP Chairman on media, Jerry Needam also called on the Police command to arrest Governor Amaechi’s ADC and CSO.

It equally called for the investigation of the Governor for allegedly supervising the attempted murder of a lawmaker.

It will be recalled that Hon. Chidi Lloyd of the Rivers State House of Assembly was seen in a video hitting a fellow lawmaker with a mace in the fracas that ensued at the Assembly few days ago.

 

Rivers State House of Assembly Unrest: Presidency wants Amaechi probed

The Presidency has  advised security agencies to ensure that Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was investigated and prosecuted after his tenure in office for his alleged involvement in Tuesday’s mayhem in the state House of Assembly.

The advice was given just as the Action Congress of Nigeria urged the Police Service Commission to address  the causes of the fracas in the House  rather than the symptoms in  its  investigation  of  the role of the police in the  crisis.

The comments by the Presidency and the ACN  followed a July 9  petition  by Amaechi  to Jonathan on the free for all that led to infliction of injuries on some lawmakers following an attempt to impeach the Speaker of the House, Mr. Daniel Amachree by a group led by Mr. Evans Bipi.

Amaechi had in the petition which was also addressed to the PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro, requested the immediate transfer of the Commissioner in charge of the state Police Command, Joseph Mbu.

He also sent copies of the petition in which he detailed Mbu’s alleged atrocities to  Senate President  David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

But the Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, wondered why the governor’s   priority  should be on the redeployment of the police  commissioner  at a time when efforts were ongoing to fly an injured  lawmaker, Michael Chinda, abroad for treatment.

Gulak,  in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Saturday, however  gave an  assurance that the President would look at the merits and demerits of Amaechi’s etition before taking a decision.

Insisting that the governor should be held responsible for the fracas, the Presidential aide reminded Amaechi  that the immunity from prosecution which he currently enjoys as a governor would end on expiration of his tenure.

He therefore asked security agencies to investigate the  fracas thoroughly and keep the file.

Gulak said, , "It is true that as a sitting governor, he enjoys immunity but immunity cannot be forever.

“Security agencies should investigate the matter (fracas) thoroughly and keep the file because I still find it amazing and tragic for the governor to go into the House of Assembly to play  active role in the fracas. It amazes me.

“But one thing is sure,  the President will read through his (Amaechi’s) petition. He will study it and look at its merits and demerits. It is after that that the President will direct relevant authorities appropriately on the matter.

“The governor had a game plan from the beginning. He wants the commissioner of police redeployed. He is not talking about a member of the House of Assembly who is the Majority Leader and his (Amaechi) security details beat to a coma.

“The lawmaker has been in a coma since that incident on Tuesday and will be flown abroad for treatment. The governor is not talking about that one, his major preoccupation is the redeployment of the police commissioner."

But  the Rivers State Government and  the ACN, said Amaechi’s quick intervention  prevented the free-for-all in the House of Assembly from escalating.

The Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha,  argued that Gulak should have called for an inquiry into how thugs gained entrance into the House.

"It is most unreasonable to contemplate. Rather conversely, Amaechi ought to be commended for his brave intervention and rescue mission even at the risk of his life. Gulak should be suggesting an inquiry into how armed thugs got into the Assembly and at whose behest," he said in an SMS message to The  PUNCH.

"He (Gulak) should be able to absolve the Presidency from complicity knowing the relationship between   Bipi  and the Presidency. Nigerians are better aware than he thinks," Okocha added.

The Police  headquarters  has however summoned the orderly to Amaechi, who was captured in a video engaging in a brawl with a lawmaker during the fracas in the  House.

"It is true that the police orderly who played a prominent role in the fracas has been summoned by the IG. He was captured in the video engaging in a fight with a lawmaker contrary to Force discipline and code of conduct for officers," a source  close to Louis Edet headquarters of the force  said on Sunday.

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had  set up a  panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Operations, Philemon Leha,  to probe the  impasse.

When contacted on Sunday, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said  investigation into the crisis was  ongoing and that the force  would not hesitate to invite anyone involved in the incident.

"You are aware that the investigation panel set up by the IG has begun its work; so anyone found to have participated in the fracas can be invited . Everyone that played a role in the incident will be summoned,” he said.

The ACN,   in a statement   on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,  said a  statement credited to PSC Chairman,  Mike Okiro, suggested that the commission was only interested in the role of the police in the fracas.

It stated that  the commission was not interested in how the police hierarchy in the state wantonly allowed the flare-up because it was acting to protect certain interests at the expense of the public.

The statement reads in part,  "Governor Amaechi  has documented, in a much-publicised letter to Mr. Okiro, how the Police Commissioner in Rivers, Mr. Mbu has thrown professionalism to the winds in pursuing his narrow agenda at the expense of the security of the state.

"It is on record that this ‘political policeman’ has worsened the security situation in the state since he assumed office in February 2013 by undermining the authority of the Governor as the Chief Security Officer of his state; undermining the security structure put in place by the State Security Council and compromising the council to such an extent that members no longer speak their minds freely during meetings.

"These are the issues we expect a non-partisan PSC to address with a view to sanctioning whoever it is that paved the way for the disgraceful show that was put up under the klieg light last week. While the PSC will be right to sanction even the policemen shown to have acted badly that day, the sanctions must extend to their bosses who allowed that to happen."

ACN also insisted that Jonathan, his aides and the Peoples Democratic Party could not distance themselves themselves from  the Rivers crisis.

It said, "Anyone with a conscience knows that the root of the problem in Rivers lies in the President’s bedroom, and no amount of fanciful statements or name calling targeted at those who are conscientious enough to call a spade a spade will change that.

“This is why we are insisting that the President must be impeached by the National Assembly for his failure to respect the rule of law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he has taken an oath to uphold."

ThePUNCH