Jonathan’s Bodyguard Blocks Amaechi From Shaking Him, Amaechi Blasts Akpabio!
From what KD Blog gathered
from sources, there was drama on Wednesday night at the Banquet Hall of
the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the Presidential dinner
organised by President Goodluck Jonathan with almost all state governors
in attendance.
Probably following directives, a fierce-looking bodyguard stopped Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi from getting close to President Jonathan and shake hands with him...
Probably following directives, a fierce-looking bodyguard stopped Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi from getting close to President Jonathan and shake hands with him...
Amaechi, who is the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and
his loyalists arrived the venue when the event was already in
progress. They came in from the Rivers Governor’s lodge where they met
earlier for about 15 minutes and then adjourned to honour the
President’s invitation.
On his entourage were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Adams Oshiomole (Edo); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Abdulazeez Kyari-(Zamfara); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Magartakada Wamakko (Sokoto).
Governor Amaechi, after settling down, got up and made his way towards where President Goodluck Jonathan was seated in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, apparently to greet the president as Chairman of Governors Forum.
However, a presidential bodyguard blocked the governor from meeting the President. Amaechi resisted for a while but had to return to his seat when it was glaring the bodyguard won’t allow him.
Also, Governor Amaechi was not recognised at the event while Governor Godswill Akpabio was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
Consequently, when Amaechi returned to his seat beside Akpabio, he accused him of being undemocratic and Akpabio fired back. “You are not democratic”, Amaechi told Akpabio and the latter instantly fired back, “You too, you are not democratic”.
On his entourage were Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Adams Oshiomole (Edo); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Abdulazeez Kyari-(Zamfara); Muritala Nyako (Adamawa) and Magartakada Wamakko (Sokoto).
Governor Amaechi, after settling down, got up and made his way towards where President Goodluck Jonathan was seated in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, apparently to greet the president as Chairman of Governors Forum.
However, a presidential bodyguard blocked the governor from meeting the President. Amaechi resisted for a while but had to return to his seat when it was glaring the bodyguard won’t allow him.
Also, Governor Amaechi was not recognised at the event while Governor Godswill Akpabio was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.
Consequently, when Amaechi returned to his seat beside Akpabio, he accused him of being undemocratic and Akpabio fired back. “You are not democratic”, Amaechi told Akpabio and the latter instantly fired back, “You too, you are not democratic”.
Minutes later, Governors Amaechi, Fayemi and Oshiomole left. On his way
out, Amaechi fielded questions from journalists. The following
conversation ensued between him and State House correspondents:
Is your presence here with other governors an indication that the problem in NGF has been resolved?
Was NGF sick? I don’t know about factions. We are holding NGF meeting and we agreed that those of us who were there should honour the President and attend the dinner, we have attended, you saw all of them, some have left and I am leaving too
Did you tell Governor Jang there is meeting now?
He was invited. What is my business if he is not there? 16 to 19. Are you not a Nigerian? 16 governors voted for him, 19 governors voted for me. If he does not accept the 19, he is undemocratic. Anybody who supports him, including television houses, are also undemocratic... Those with me are in majority.
Is your presence here with other governors an indication that the problem in NGF has been resolved?
Was NGF sick? I don’t know about factions. We are holding NGF meeting and we agreed that those of us who were there should honour the President and attend the dinner, we have attended, you saw all of them, some have left and I am leaving too
Did you tell Governor Jang there is meeting now?
He was invited. What is my business if he is not there? 16 to 19. Are you not a Nigerian? 16 governors voted for him, 19 governors voted for me. If he does not accept the 19, he is undemocratic. Anybody who supports him, including television houses, are also undemocratic... Those with me are in majority.
