Rivers Crisis: Amaechi Is My Son — Patience Jonathan

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday appealed to Governor Rotimi Amaechi to hold the olive branch and resist being used by outsiders against his own people in the crisis rocking Rivers State, saying the governor and the minister of state for education, Mr Nyeson Wike, remain her sons, brothers and kinsmen.

While giving an insight into the genesis of the crisis in the state, she reiterated the need for the warring factions to employ dialogue as a means of resolving the contending issues amicably.

Speaking when she received members of the Niger Delta Bishops Forum/South-South Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mrs Jonathan said she would do anything to protect both Amaechi and Wike.

Noting that she was more committed to ensuring that peace returns to Rivers State soon, she said as the president of African First Ladies Peace Mission, her desire is to have peace in her home base.

“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 Governor 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 sorts of propaganda in the media against me; this is not the way.

“I’ve never spoken about this issue but, as [you are] 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.’’

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 times.

“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.

The first lady, who charged the bishops to pray that God should return Rivers State to its normal peaceful situation, expressed her faith that with God the present generation will leave a legacy of peace for generations yet unborn.

 The bishops, led by Archbishop God-Do-Well, said that they were not influenced or bribed to pay the visit, but got inspiration from God to take practical steps to restore peace in Nigeria, especially Rivers State.

On his part, Archbishop God Do-Well stated that their presence was in fulfilment of the church’s responsibility to shape a culture of peace and justice.

PDP Convention Crisis: Jonathan overrules Tukur, backs Gana’s August 31 date

In what looks like a strain in their relationship, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bamanga Tukur, to immediately open the party’s Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, for the Professor Jerry Gana-led Convention Planning Committee for its activities.

Besides, President Jonathan overruled Tukur’s decision to put on hold the activities of the Gana Committee, a development seen in many quarters as a high point in the crisis of confidence between Tukur and Gana.

In effect, the August 24 and 31 dates picked by the Gana committee for the south-west zonal congress and the Special Convention respectively, which the Tukur-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) put on hold on Monday, remain valid.

That was the thrust of a meeting of stakeholders summoned by President Jonathan to iron out grey areas as the party’s convention plans have continuously run into hitches since Gana, erstwhile information minister, was made chairman of the party’s Special Convention Planning Committee to elect new party officers to fill the vacancies occasioned by the resignation of about 16 members of NWC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had faulted the mode of emergence of the affected officers at the 2012 convention of the PDP.

But worried by the avalanche of complaints from stakeholders over Tukur’s attitude towards members of the convention committee, President Jonathan decided to summon Tukur, Gana, deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu as well as the secretary to the government of the federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, to a meeting at the presidential villa. 

A source close to the meeting confided in LEADERSHIP that President Jonathan at the peace parley was “seen to be uncomfortable at certain revelations throughout the meeting”.

“The meeting was frank and very decisive; to be honest with you, Mr President was hearing certain developments for the first time because, all along, he had been given the impression that the press was creating crisis for the party.

“It was at the meeting that the president got to know from party leaders that Tukur locked out both Gana and Ekweremadu from his residence when the duo went to him to iron out certain issues regarding the convention.

“The complaints from those at the meeting were many and I cannot tell you in details, but, to be candid with you, the president was very uncomfortable throughout the meeting as he listened to so many issues raised against the chairman.

“As it is now, the August 24 and 31 dates for the congress and convention that were set aside by the Interim NWC on Monday have been revalidated by the president and I am sure the NWC will issue a statement to that effect any moment from now.

“This is apart from the fact that Mr President directed that Legacy House be opened for the convention committee to meet regularly on the line-up of activities for the convention because the issue that was first raised by a member of the Interim NWC was that the committee was using the private residence of one of them to hold meetings but, upon inquiry, it was discovered that Tukur ordered that the place be shut against the committee,” he said.

According to the source, Tukur denied that he denied Gana and Ekweremadu access to his residence when the matter was tabled before the president.

Amidst these endless intrigues, the Tukur-led Interim NWC had ordered the special National Convention Committee to put on hold all plans relating to the convention and South-West Congress, citing the committee’s breach of the party’s constitution.

A statement by PDP’s acting national publicity secretary, Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke, said that the party leadership made the decision to halt the convention and South-West Congress in order to avoid a repeat of the events that affected the party’s convention in 2012.