Since the beginning of the past week, the Nigerian Senate has been involved in the ministerial screening of ministerial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Included in the list of nominees, is the former governor of Rivers state and the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign director during the March 28 presidential elections, Rotimi Amaechi.
But since the commencement of the exercise, the Senate has twice deferred Amaechi’s screening.
This could be based on various reasons:
1. Lack of support from Rivers state senators
Some days back, three senators from Rivers state, George Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu, had opposed the clearance of Amaechi with a petition laid before the Senate by Sekibo.
The senators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backed their opposition on the Senate home support rule necessary for the clearance of a ministerial nominee.
But the senate spokesperson, Senator Dino Malaye, said that the home support rule is less sacrosanct, meaning that the former governor still has a chance to be screened.
2. Petitions against Amaechi
Having taken over from his predecessor as the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has made several allegations on Amaechi.
Subsequently, the allegations bordering on corruption and misappropriation of state’s fund have followed up by a petition against the former governor by an Integrity group.
The group wrote to the senate saying that Amaechi is yet to answer questions on the allegations leveled against him in the state.
On deferring of his screening, the senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions said the committee could not meet up with the submission of its report due to the delayed plenary adjournment.
Nigerians are also hopeful that on the resumption of screening, Amaechi will be screened alongside other nominees.
3. Ameachi’s fight with the former first lady Patience Jonathan
Before the end of the past administration’s tenure, Amaechi went into misunderstanding with Patience Jonathan. This misunderstanding started after the former president Goodluck Jonathan announced Plateau state’s Jonah Jang as the chairman of the Nigerian governor’s forum over Amaechi who floored Jang with three votes.
This crisis was later taken over by Evan Bipi, a Rivers state house of assembly lawmaker, in favour of the former first lady.
The crisis led to Amaechi’s romance with the APC and subsequently earning him the title: “the most controversial governor”.
He later officially defected from the-then ruling PDP to the APC.
4. Dwindling popularity
Since the inauguration of the Buhari-led administration, Amaechi has failed to be in the news as compared to his days as the most controversial governor. This trend has also dwindled as the former governor rarely made an appearance in the news until the allegations against him by Wike emerged and also his nomination as a minister by the president.
Meanwhile, since the screening exercise, the former governor has written three letters to the senate pleading innocence of the allegations against him. The former governor said that all the allegations against him by his state senators and his predecessors are false.
He also said the essence of the allegation is to tarnish his image and to solely irritate, embarrass and bedevil his hard-earned reputation.
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Posted: at 19-10-2015 11:06 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
aspeng007 at 19-10-2015 11:12 AM (9 years ago) (m)
Hmm,so the past is cumin back 2 hunt him huh'
Posted: at 19-10-2015 11:12 AM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Posted: at 19-10-2015 12:21 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Spatacuss at 19-10-2015 01:41 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: sandra78 on 19-10-2015 12:21 PM
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 01:41 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Spatacuss at 19-10-2015 01:41 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: sandra78 on 19-10-2015 12:21 PM
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 01:41 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Spatacuss at 19-10-2015 01:42 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: sandra78 on 19-10-2015 12:21 PM
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 01:42 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Spatacuss at 19-10-2015 01:43 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: sandra78 on 19-10-2015 12:21 PM
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 01:43 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Spatacuss at 19-10-2015 01:44 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: sandra78 on 19-10-2015 12:21 PM
Let him return back to his home state rivers if they refuse to screen him....he was the person that said he is not desperate for power and why suddenly become desperate now ?
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 01:44 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
Its his cross. Let him carry d load alone. And if his pple are against him, he shld go bak home and settle wit his pple. He shld not allow anybody from other region to instigate him against his ppls. They can settle themselves. They are family.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 02:17 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Did you see him fighting or campaining to be a Minister? Its your president who belived that Ameachi is the best man to handle the Niger/Delter afairs thats why he chosed him and the majority sanotors from that region are PDP's GEJ loyalist. So what do u expect since the power is in their hands and they are puting up a challange on him (Ameachi)? Even if you are the one the challange will make you desire the position just to see if they will kill dem self for hating you cus you did d right thing by asisting a credible man than GEJ to win the Presidency.
. She has right to her opinion. U don't have toquote one million of her one comment b4 u make ur point. I don't kn nigeria has change from wat it is to utopia now.
Posted: at 19-10-2015 02:21 PM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
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