Erstwhile
National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party
(nPDP) and member of APC Legacy Projects Media Team, Chief Eze Chukwumeka Eze
has said that it is not unusual for perfidious characters and disgruntled
elements to always device satanic schemes to scuttle the breakthrough of former
Rivers Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, at the brink of every milestone in
his political journey.
In a statement made available to media houses in Port Harcourt,
Chief Eze said he was concerned about the worries expressed by Nigerians in
several quarters over the latest attempt by Gov. Nyesom Wike to
smear, impugn and deride the persona of his benefactor and predecessor, Rt.
Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and immediate
past Minister of Transportation.
Describing Wike’s loquacious rambling and his self-styled
interpretation of the recent judgement of the Supreme Court, Chief Eze said it
is usual for Amaechi to go through trials and tribulations ahead of any elevation
as such challenges equip him better to face the task of his new status in
public service with courage and foresight.
Explaining the purport of the Supreme Court judgement, the party
Chief said the Judicial Commission set up by the Wike's Administration lacked
Powers to try Ameachi as the probe panel was a mere fact-finding commission and
most importantly too, the said N96B was duly captured in the 2014 budget of the
State.
According to the Supreme Court, the Rivers State commission of
inquiry that indicted former governor Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi, is a mere
fact-finding body with no powers to engage in the trial of anybody for anything
whatsoever.
The seven-member of Justice of the Supreme Court in a unanimous
judgment, said the findings of the probe panel are not enforceable in law.
The decision of the apex court was contained in the appeal No:
SC/911/2017, lodged before it by Ameachi who is a frontline presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), against the Governor of Rivers
State, the Attorney General of the State, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry
and others.
In the judgment rendered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex
court went further to hold that the Rivers State commission of inquiry “is not
an adjudicatory body and so does not try or determine disputes as to any rights
or obligations of liabilities.
Justice Agim said: “A commission of inquiry is a factfinding or
information-seeking body. It carries out factfinding or information seeking by
the process of impartial investigation to find out certain facts or information
about the subject of the inquiry.
Chief Eze said wit the judgment, the Supreme Court has
vindicated the former Transportation Minister Chibuike Amaechi and cleared him
of all purported or alleged indictment by Governor Wike’s commission.
It is therefore laughable to hear Wike threaten over the TV to
engage some of his bootlickers and members of the Rivers PDP, whom he
garrulously christened Rivers Elders, to determine whether or not Amaechi will be
dragged to court.
While thanking the Supreme Court for clearing Amaechi on the
matter, Eze called on Governor Wike to stop his macabre dance and allow sanity
and peace to prevail within the politics of Rivers State.
Supporting Amaechi’s frugality, careful management of Rivers
resources and recounting his ordeals preceding every new level, Eze referred
the public to an article he penned in November 2015, titled, "Amaechi:
Tortuous Journey To The Next Level" which was reflected in chapter 14 of
his new book on the former Minister.
Excerpt
1. 1999 State House of Assembly election
Signs of the mission of Governor Amaechi in the politics of
Nigeria started when FEDECO, the then electoral umpire, announced Uche Okwukwu,
a lawyer, of the defunct APP winner of the State House of Assembly election of
the Ikwerre Constituency in place of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of PDP.
Amaechi contested this at the then Election Tribunal and
the Court of Appeal and won, and was subsequently sworn-in as member, State
House of Assembly representing Ikwerre Constituency. Thus, began his political
struggles through the courts. Reacting to this, Okwukwu stated: “Yes, I
contested against the present governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Like I
said, the Court of Appeal said I didn’t win and I should not be in the Rivers
State House of Assembly. So, as a lawyer, by my training, I have since accepted
the verdict of the court, particularly, when you do not have the right to
appeal beyond that point.”
2. Battle over control of local governments
In 2003, Governor Amaechi came up with another feat through the
courts. When the National Assembly moved to hijack the legislative functions of
the State House of Assembly as enshrined in the constitution. He led his
colleagues to take the matter to Nigeria’s Supreme Court, and the court gave a
judgement that the control and supervision of local government is the
prerogative of the
State House of Assembly.
3. His most celebrated Supreme Court ruling
A lot of articles and statements were written following the
‘k-leg’ episode that was the outright hijack of the 2007 PDP gubernatorial
ticket from Amaechi ahead of the April 14, 2007 election in Rivers State. This
occurred despite his landslide victory at the primaries, where he clinched
6,527 of the 6,575 possible votes while seven other aspirants that included
political heavyweights like Hon Chief Austin Okpara, a former Deputy Speaker of
the House of Representatives, late Senator Martin Yellowe, Pawariso Horsfall
and Mr. Chris Orji shared the remaining 48 votes among themselves. Amaechi’s
name was subsequently forwarded to the INEC on December 14, 2006 in compliance
with Section 32(1) & (2) of the Electoral Act 2006. INEC, thereafter, duly
published Amaechi’s name as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party in Rivers State.
The story, however, took a different turn when, speaking at the
presentation of the party flag to its gubernatorial candidate at the Liberation
Stadium, Port Harcourt, former President and then “Emperor” of PDP, Gen Olusegun
Obasanjo (rtd), declared that Amaechi’s candidacy had ‘k-leg.’ Following this
outright abuse of office, the dreaded bulldog that was the Nuhu Ribadu-led
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was let loose on Amaechi,
resulting in his decision to seek legal redress for his travails. Suffice to
say, Amaechi went on self-exile to Ghana, and the powers that be further showed
their contempt for him by selecting his cousin, Sir Celestine Omehia, who
neither purchased nor filled a form, as PDP flag-bearer in his stead.
Amaechi’s vindication came with the October 25, 2007 landmark
ruling by the Nigerian Supreme Court, declaring him as not only the authentic
flag-bearer of PDP but also ordering that he be sworn-in immediately to replace
Omehia, who had previously been sworn-in on May 29, 2007 as the Governor of
Rivers State. Thus, Amaechi became the first and only person to occupy the
office of governor in the country without standing for election. In explaining
the ruling, the Supreme Court has since stated that it is the party that
contests elections and that the PDP won the gubernatorial elections, and that,
consequently, Amaechi, being the rightful candidate, should assume power as
governor.
This epochal feat stands as Amaechi’s greatest input towards the
growth of judiciary in the political life of Nigeria, as it has become a
reference case in determining similar cases in Nigeria today.
4. Undemocratic suspension from PDP
When the PDP national leadership undemocratically decided to
suspend Governor Amaechi from the party without any sound reason on May 27,
2013 and was to follow it up with expulsion. He resorted to the courts, once
again, to stop them from taking any further step on his case until he decided
to join APC. The suspension of Amaechi from the party was agreed during an
unscheduled and unusually early morning meeting of the National Working
Committee (NWC) of the party at the residence of the then National Chairman,
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The meeting commenced at 8:00 am and came two days ahead
of the regular meeting of the NWC, which normally holds on Wednesdays. It was
also three days after Amaechi beat the odds with his re-election as chairman of
the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. He had been allegedly opposed by the PDP Governors’
Forum (PDP-GF) ahead of the election.
The governor’s suspension was hinged on what the party described
as his refusal to order the reinstatement of members of the Obio Akpor Local
Government executive who were suspended from office on the orders of the Rivers
State House of Assembly upon allegations of corruption raised against the LG
executive. Hours after the suspension was announced, the party, at a press
conference, said that it had constituted a committee headed by Mr Joe Gadzama,
SAN, to probe allegations raised against Amaechi. Other members of the
committee were PDP National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Inalegwu Onche, Friday
Nwosu, Udorji Amedu, Ola Kukuyi, Wakil Mohammed, Yusuf Jangwe, Mr Bola Doherty,
Mr Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro as secretary.
Reacting to his suspension during an interactive session with
youths of the state, Amaechi asked: “Who has power to suspend Obio/Akpor
council? Now you see political witch-hunting. It is so ridiculous; my party
must rise above political witch-hunting. The governor did not suspend Obio/Akpor
council, I hope you know. My power is to dissolve and remit it to the House of
Assembly, but I have not done that yet, what the Assembly has said is ‘we are
investigating corruption’ then the party says we should not investigate
corruption: Is that fair?” He went further to state that the NWC issued a press
statement to suspend him without any invitation and fair hearing. His words: “I
was not invited by the National Working Committee of PDP; I was not given fair
hearing. What I heard was ‘why did I refuse to reinstate the suspended
Obio/Akpor Council executive? Who suspended them?’ His questions received the
enthusiastic response of the youths who chorused: “The Rivers State House of
Assembly.” Again, the governor asked: “Who has the power to investigate Obio/Akpor
council executive?” The youths again replied: “The State Assembly.”
It was this suspension of Governor Amaechi from PDP, not minding
all that he did to uplift the party that started the decimation of PDP and its
reduction from a ruling national political party to an opposition regional
political party.
5. Intrigues in appointment of Justice Agumagu as Chief Judge
Rivers
The indefatigable and indomitable Chibuike Amaechi recently
started another legal battle, but this time with the National Judicial Council
(NJC). Like other cases involving Amaechi, this case is unprecedented in the
annals of judicial adjudication, and Nigerians are watching with keen interest
to see how he may win it.
Based on the Federal High Court ruling approving Justice Peter
Nwoke Chukwuma Agumagu as the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Amaechi supervised
his formal swearing-in ceremony. However, after few days, the NJC came up with
a verdict suspending the newly-appointed Chief Judge. This, again, is
unprecedented in the history of appointment of chief judges in any other state
in Nigeria.
6. Transfer of Rivers’ oil wells to Akwa Ibom
As the serving Governor of Rivers State, Amaechi caused his
attorney-general to challenge the transfer of some oil wells from Rivers State
to Akwa Ibom State. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favour of Rivers
State in that case.
7. Travails in the hands of Jonathan
Despite his great show of love to former President Jonathan,
former Governor Amaechi was subjected to monumental humiliation by the Jonathan
Administration. A few examples: The plane of the Rivers State Government was
grounded for no just cause; the PDP structure in Rivers State was taken away
from Amaechi and his election as the chairman of NGF duly certified and acknowledged
worldwide was annulled by President Jonathan and his cohorts. As if that was
not enough, Amaechi was suspended from a party he so much loved and spent so
much to build. Indeed, if not for divine providence, he would have been
illegally impeached by five legislators in a House of 32 members; a Police
Commissioner by name Mr Joseph Mbu was posted to Rivers State to haunt, insult
and abuse him publicly, calling him a despot. What is more, governors that came
to visit him were stoned! In the eyes of Nigerians, Amaechi stands as a great
man while in the eyes of those haunting him he is a persona non grata.
To an illustrious son of the State and former Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Prof Tam David-West, Amaechi is an innocent man and his
travails illustrate the Nigerian paradox where excellence is relegated to the
background and mediocrity is elevated. His words: “I’m particularly worried
about the trend, not only because I am a Rivers State elder, not only because I
am a strong supporter of Amaechi without any regret, I am also worried as a
Nigerian, because what is happening to Amaechi underscores a terrible Nigerian
paradox: which I call the paradox of excellence. We support him because those
of us who grew up in Port Harcourt as a famous ‘Garden City’ knew how the city
changed to a rotten city. And Amaechi, who is also a Port Harcourt boy,
returned the city back to its glorious ‘Garden City’ status. Any person that
does not realise this is not only blind but terrible.” This great sage reminded
Amaechi’s opponents that he who laughs last, laughs best, stating with emphasis
that the governor would laugh last because his first name, Chibuike, means ‘God
is strength’.”
8. Why Amaechi joined APC
The desperation of the PDP leadership to completely destroy
Amaechi led to his departure, alongside six other PDP governors, to form the
New PDP, with five of them later joining the mega opposition political party,
the All Progressives Congress. Explaining why he joined APC, Governor Amaechi
said: “Unfortunately, recent events within the PDP have given me reason to
reconsider our collective interest as people of the South-South and, indeed a
Rivers people. At various times, as the one whom you gave your mandate, I had
cause to complain about the marginalisation of our state and our people,
despite our huge contribution to the national coffers and our unflinching
commitment and support for the ruling PDP. While the political and economic
importance of Rivers State cannot be contested, we continue to hold the shorter
end of the stick.
“A few instances may suffice: Our demand that the Federal
Government return oil wells belonging to Rivers State to us has gone unheeded
and been treated with levity under this administration. Rather, our oil wells
have been ceded to Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom states. Even after we got a
judgment that the oil wells were wrongly ceded to Akwa Ibom State and should be
returned to us; only dry wells that were no longer producing oil were returned.
“In the specific case of the Soku oil wells, despite a decision
reached that the monies should remain in an escrow account till all matters
concerning it are resolved, the Federal government continues to pay
neighbouring Bayelsa State the revenues meant for Rivers State in a classic
case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is indeed noteworthy that we have made
several representations formally and informally on this matter.
“A second instance is the total absence of federal presence in
Rivers State. The ‘National Good Governance Tour’ provided a good opportunity
for the Federal Government to showcase its presence in Rivers State. The tour,
if nothing else, proved that there was not much to show in a state that is the
cash cow of the federation. The East-West Road remains abandoned, work has been
deliberately slow on the Port Harcourt International Airport, the third busiest
airport in the country, while all airports started along with it have long been
completed and commissioned. The Bonny-Bomu Road that leads to the only
functional liquefied natural gas project remains uncompleted. In the midst of
all these, our administration went ahead to fix federal roads to the tune of
N103 billion. Several representations and letters after, not one kobo has been
repaid. The Federal Government is actively discouraging investments in Rivers
State.”
8. Challenges of ministerial nomination and confirmation
Chief Nyesom Wike’s desperation to drag Amaechi’s name in the
mud in order to frustrate his nomination or appointment as a minster, made he
(Wike) to sponsor a satanic documentary on Amaechi aired on Africa Independent
Television (AIT). This satanic documentary was part of Wike’s propaganda war
against Amaechi, for which he earmarked billions of naira in his wicked plot to
destroy and decimate the person and character of Amaechi. Other propaganda
tools planned and deployed during this period, in the war against Amaechi,
include sponsored publications such as advertorials, columns, editorials and
Op-Ed articles in major international, national and local print media;
sponsored personality discussion programmes in the electronic media and
sponsored special documentaries on television and radio through independent
groups and organisations.
This insidious plot by Wike include commissioning a team made up
of persons within and outside Rivers State to ‘initiate, formulate and contrive
false damaging reports bordering on alleged corrupt practices by Amaechi, which
were circulated to individuals and institutions within Nigeria and abroad with
a view to damaging the incorruptible character and rising profile of Hon Rotimi
Amaechi, in order to blackmail and put pressure on President Buhari not to
appoint the former governor into his government. These cooked reports to the
shock of many Nigerians was sent to the Senate and presented through one
misguided Senator Thompson Sekibo, which the Senate referred to the Ethics
Committee of the Senate, which caused the delay in Amaechi’s screening and
confirmation as a minister. Amaechi has through both the immediate past
Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyi, and the Commissioner for
Finance, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, and others denied any form of corruption
against him by Wike and his cohorts.
Wike did not stop at these but went further to set up Justice
George Omereji Panel, to investigate the administration of Rt Hon Chibuike
Amaechi. Though the panel did not found any wrong-dealing, or corrupt practices
by Amaechi, Wike went ahead to issue a white paper indicting him of embezzling
the sum of N53 billion, How on earth can someone in his right senses describe
funds withdrawn with the approval of the legislature and spent as prescribed by
the state budget to be missing? Wike, in his desperation to stop Amaechi’s
appointment as a minister, resorted to dancing naked in the market place.
But as God will have it, and contrary to the expectations of
Chief Wike and his gang of miserable ingrates, their ferocious campaign to
blackmail, disparage and portray Amaechi as a very corrupt person
unfit to be appointed as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, failed
to achieve the desired objective; as on September 30, 2015 President Muhammadu
Buhari went ahead to list and submit the name of Chibuike Amaechi along with
those of 20 other great Nigerians as ministerial nominees to the Senate for
confirmation.
And to the shock and chagrin of Wike and his cohorts, the
Senate, after three sittings on the ministerial screening of the ministerial
nominees, screened Amaechi on October 22, 2015 and formally confirmed him on
October 29, 2015. He was subsequently sworn-in with the 35 other ministers on
Wednesday, November 11, 2015, by President Buhari, who as a further mark of
confidence in the Lion of Ubima assigned to him the strategically important
Ministry of Transportation.
9. Amaechi as Minister of Transportation
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was on Nov. 11, 2015 sworn-in as
Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Transport pledged to complete all ongoing rail
projects around the country and extend rail lines to all parts of the country.
Amaechi made the pledge during his first day in office as
minister shortly after his inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja
on 11th November, 2015. He has since resumed work as the Minister of Transportation
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 17th November 201 with a meeting with the
Permanent Secretary and the Directors to look at the budget and its level of
implementation. The meeting is necessary to chart a new course toward
completing all ongoing projects, especially the rail and extending it to
different part of the country.
Amaechi, however, called for cooperation from all parastatals
and agencies of the ministry and the aviation sector. He promised to ensure a
smooth working relationship with the Minister of State for Aviation for the
development of the sector as well as meeting the expectations of Nigerians.
The minister also urged the staff to always play by rule, adding
that “I belief in principles of discharging my duties. We are interested in
completing all ongoing rail projects around the country because we don’t want
to disappoint Nigerians. It is important that we realise that we have a mandate
to deliver on our promises and there is competition among the ministers to
deliver and we don’t want to take last. Amaechi also emphasised on the issue of
corruption, warning that anybody that would work with him must not approach him
for money.
the Rivers State APC Chapter in a press statement of 12th
November, 2015 congratulated her leader, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on
his historical appointment as a Minister of Transportation, “We heartily
congratulate our leader on his meritorious appointment as Honourable Minister
of Transport while at the same time extending our heartfelt gratitude to
President Muhammadu Buhari for his confidence in Amaechi. We wish to assure Mr.
President and all Nigerians that Amaechi, who has a track record of
performance, will deliver even beyond expectations if given the necessary
cooperation,” Rivers APC said in a statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies
Ibiamu Ikanya. Drawing Amaechi’s attention to some of the most pressing
problems that deserve his attention, Rivers APC noted that he is assuming
office as Minister of Transport at a time when the Port Harcourt International
Airport is rated as the worst in the world and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport, Abuja, the seventh worst on the African continent, while the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, is ranked 10th worst on the continent.
“This is not acceptable to us and we wish that Amaechi quickly corrects this
shameful anomaly imposed on us by the immediate past visionless administration
of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his misguided Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” the
party said.
Continuing, the party said: “Amaechi is coming in as the
Transport Minister at a time when the railway system is moribund and the
maritime sector in a chaotic state. We know what Amaechi is made of and we
expect him not only to turn around the fortunes of the railways but also to do
same to the maritime sector.”
The party appealed to all Rivers people and the entire Nigerian
population to accord Minister Amaechi all the support and prayers he needs to
enable him translate his magic wand exhibited at the state level to the
national level for the benefit of all Nigerians. It equally congratulated the
35 other ministers and called on Nigerians to give them every needed
cooperation to deliver and make Nigerians feel the positive change promised by
APC.
In postulating his point very clearly, Eze reminded Nigerians
that challenges is what gives Amaechi the stepping stone recalling his ambition
to be reelected as the Chairman of the Governor's Forum, and how the powers
that were then told Nigerians that 16 is superior to 19 but still he came out
of it unscathed
When he decided to install the next of President of Nigeria by
2015 was it easy for him of course no! Hell was opened on him. Did he succeed
of course yes, today President Buhari is still the President of Nigeria. When
in 2019 Amaechi was to be reappointed as the DG for Buhari Presidential
Campaign Organisation, was it easy for him of course no? but God who has being
his Guide prevailed and he became the first person in the entire world to Head
a Presidential Campaign Organisation on two occasions and won.
In order to frustrate his Presidential bid, some elements
resolved to throw in a stumbling block by inserting an unconstitutional clause
in the Electoral Act Section 84(12) and this notwithstanding, Amaechi has been
cleared to contest the presidential primaries of APC come 6th June 2022.
Conclusion
After all said and done, I am counselled by this special quote
from my good friend, ALH. IBRAHIM ABDUL GANIYU.
"My dear Chief Eze, no animal loves the Lion in
the Jungle because, when he takes the stage, no one can challenge him. He
always make his ways to victory as a result of the fact that he is a Grand
master Strategist, bold, full of speed, strong, calculative and powerful with a
great foresight. He knows their weak points. Don't expect them to love Ameachi
because, he posseses the aforementioned qualities. The only one that can stop
Ameachi is God, not even Satan the devil." ALH. IBRAHIM ABDUL GANIYU.
Summarily, I encourage Nigerians to celebrate and be happy
because what most of us see travails pertaining to Amaechi and the 2023 general
election are those plots that will make him the next President of Nigeria.
Email: societynaija@gmail.com
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