Bodyguard blocks Amaechi from greeting Jonathan at Presidential Dinner

The disagreement between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers state Governor, again came to the fore Wednesday night at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President had invited state Governors to a dinner organized in honour of Nigerian women.

The chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, Rotimi Amaechi and his loyalists got into the event venue when everybody was already seated.

Their late arrival was attributed to the brief meeting they earlier had at the Rivers Governor’s lodge.

Amaechi, after taking his seat, got up and walked towards President Goodluck Jonathan to greet him.

The Nigerian leader was in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Hellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

But as Amaechi approached the trio, a Presidential Body Guard (otherwise called BG) blocked him from getting to the President. The Governor after a few seconds of insistence returned to his seat, when it was clear the BG would not allow him pass.
At the event, Amaechi, who was on the same table with Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill Akpabio, was not recognized, while the latter was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

Later, Amaechi and Akpabio exchanged words apparently over the crisis that has engulfed the NGF.


 
Amaechi told Akpabio that “You are not democratic”, and the latter immediately retorted “You too, you are not democratic”.

Governors Amaechi, Fayemi and Oshiomhole left soon afterwards.

Responding to questions from State House correspondents, Amaechi on whether his presence with other governors means that the problem in NGF was over, said: “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.

Asked if Governor Jang was invited, Ameachi said. “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 (media) houses, are also undemocratic.

“I have said it in a statement that if at any point in time, we cannot uphold what 19 governors said, then we should be afraid of 2015. If the PDP is suspending me for that reason, too bad.

“We must learn to be democratic. I am not aware that the party has given any reason for suspending me, if that is the reason, too bad. The party is yet to give any reason for my suspension. I am not aware that the party suspended me for winning an election.
On the way forward, the Governor said “That is the question to ask Jang and those who are supporting him. Those with me are in the majority.”

Dailypost

A few days after bodyguards of Mr. Jonathan prevented Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from shaking hands with him at a presidential dinner last week in Abuja.

Amaechi met President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the Port Harcourt International airport today and both embraced each other in the presence of a faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by a junior minister of Education, Nyeson Wike at the airport.

Mr. Jonathan was on his way to Abuja from Bayelsa state where he commissioned a hospital and visited the federal university at his Otueke village.