Worried by the increasing deterioration of the feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, concerned friends and political associates are set to intercede and settle their differences.
The trouble-shooting which began about three days ago, is anchored on a solution that would make Amaechi, who is the chairman of the highly influential Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF), beat a retreat from belligerence, and make up with the President on the platform of ‘no victor, no vanquished.’
A serving Senator, (names withheld), who is the arrow-head of the initiative told Daily Sun, that the continued escalation of the misunderstanding has grave implications on the political careers of the duo especially as the 2015 elections inch closer.
The Senator, who is from North-Central said they had to step into the fray to nip in the bud efforts by the opposition to reap from the rift. “Already, you can see all kinds of posturings, positionings in the name of advice from many people who want to make a capital of it and make undeserved gains.
Some are telling Amaechi by their statements not to give in, encouraging him to take on the President, while raising tension. Amaechi is a smart and intelligent politician and should read in between the lines.”
On the other side, some people are now reminding the President of his awesome power, instigating him to unleash it on Amaechi for the sake of teaching him lessons. The President, of course, knows that not all the advice and instigations are well-meaning.
This is why both combatants should be wary and tread cautiously and wisely. When the chips are down, you will not see any of them,” he counseled. Reviewing the festering crisis, he dismissed it as a “non-issue,” which was aggravated by bloated ego” and “intransigence” of the governor.”
He said though the NGF was alarmingly transforming into a Frankenstein monster through its overbearing interferences in national and party affairs, he, however, absolved Amaechi of culpability.
“The issue of what the NGF has turned into did not start today. It did not start with Amaechi. It has been there for some time now, I think it began when Sen. Bukola Saraki was their chairman. When Victor Attah, and Abdullahi Adamu were at the helm, the forum was calm, focused and non-radical.”
On the allegation that the deepening gulf in their relationship had ties at the family level, when the President’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, opposed the demolition of the Okrika waterfront by Amaechi in 2010, he said that elevating this aspect to fuel this crisis was the handiwork of their enemies.
He said the Okrika waterfront episode had since been resolved and forgotten. “Why are they bringing it up now?
That shows that there is something sinister in the whole plot. It shows that there are those who want them to reap the whirlwind,” he fumed. He expressed optimism that the tiff will soon be resolved. “We have made efforts to reach the governor, who is away in Canada. We are talking. We want to prevail on him to come down, pocket his ego, and recognize that there is a President here, who is his brother, and who has a large heart full of forgiveness.
We are sure that the moment he steps down, the rest would be history.” The misunderstanding between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi worsened last weekend when the Rivers State Government’s aircraft, a Bombardier, BD700-IAII, was delayed at Akure Airport in Ondo State by the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and eventually grounded by Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in the state was changed, and the new helmsmen promptly embarked on a series of anti-Amaechi actions aimed at turning on the heat on him. Before then, he had engaged in a running battle with the Presidency to steady the course of his saddle at the NGF.
A rival body, PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) led by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, was created, and Amaechi’s quest for a second term subjected to a stiff challenge. Reacting to the peace initiative, the state government said the governor was not averse to peace, and is ever ready to meet with the President.
The government, however, advised the President to call his men to order first.
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