Politics
2023: Amaechi sneaks into Niger, after escape from mob attack in Borno, faces heavy criticisms
The former governor of Rivers State, Chief Rotimi Amaechi reportedly sneaked into Minna, Niger State late Friday unnoticed to seek delegates votes during the presidential primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He suffered mob attack earlier in the day in Biu, Borno State alongside his campaign Director General, Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume, but escaped narrowly as thugs who were not comfortable with Amaechi’s presence clashed his Ndume’s supporters, while they targeted to touch two of them before were shielded into hiding by security operatives.
Amaechi was the immediate past Minister of Transportation and is contesting presidency the 2023 general election.
No sooner than he started speaking with delegates of the All Progressives Congress in Minna, he met heavy criticisms from a staunch member of the APC who described Amaechi as “Mr Deceit”.
First his visit to Niger was unannounced or rather the news of him coming to Minna to canvass for delegates votes was restricted for unknown reasons, Comrade Jonathan Vatsa openly called him “Mr. Deceit” following the failed Baro port project in Niger state.
Comrade Vatsa was the immediate past APC Niger State Publicity Secretary who has seen it all.
Reacting while speaking with journalists, Vatsa wondered the rationale behind visiting delegates to canvass for votes when people might have gone back to their homes.
According to him, “the guilt and sins of Baro port are chasing Amaechi, he came to see Niger state delegates at night where everyone would have retired home.”
He said Niger people have arranged to protest against Rotimi Amaechi but unfortunately he came late after everyone have retired home.
“Why didn’t he (Amaechi) come in the broad day light where we can see him. We had arranged to protest against him and he knew it.”
Earlier, the former Minister while speaking with delegates at the Government House, Minna the contracts for the Minna to Baro sea port and railway have been awarded.
He added that Minna to Abuja road project will commence by November, 2022 as the loan that will finance the project has been approved.
Reacting further, Vatsa insisted: “Amaechi’s next name is Mr Deceit, why is it that of all time, it is now he is vying for President that he is saying they have signed and approved the contract?
“I thought they brought President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the Baro port, so which port is he talking about again? He is telling lies, we don’t believe him.
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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