The much-expected screening of ministerial nominees sent to the Nigerian Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari has not gone without drama and intrigues. When the Senate rose for the last sitting of the week, only 18 of the 21 nominees on the first list have been cleared. The rest, along with those on the second list of 16 nominees, will face the Senator on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Among those whose screening was expected to attract more-than-usual attention, is Chief Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers state. Amaechi’s nomination has been contentious following a plethora of allegations that he is dripping with corruption. The Integrity Group, an association believed to be fronting for Amaechi’s successor and estranged godson, Nyesom Wike had taken it upon itself to ensure that the corruption tag hangs pretty around Amaechi’s neck.
In its petition to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate, the group said Amaechi should first clear his name over allegations of fraud concerning the sale of state’s power plants, among others. Since the Senate prefers not to engage in issues that are awaiting judicial interpretation, the red chamber was being cautious, even if many insist that the ex-governor remains innocent until proven guilty. In deferring Amaechi’s screening, Senate spokesman, Dino Melaye said it was to allow the Ethics and Previleges committee handling the petition to complete work and submit a report. In political terms, however, Wike has triumphed in round one of the battle, as we are wont to interpret such in Nigeria.
The political disagreement between Amaechi and his successor dates back to Wike’s days in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan; it has since developed into a bitter political rivalry for the soul of Rivers state. For a man who became minister by Amaechi’s grace, Wike is believed to have traded off gratitude as he curried favour and the support of President Jonathan and his wife in his quest to succeed Amaechi as Rivers state governor. He also became a potent tool in the hands of the PDP in the party’s efforts to discredit Amaechi who was openly opposed to President Jonathan’s second term ambition. What now obtains in Rivers state as a result, is a bitter rivalry that has people sorely divided across political and cultural lines.
Wike may have a point in trying to unveil what may be the sordid activities that took place during Amaechi’s tenure, but there is no doubt he has reduced it to a personal vendetta as well as a proxy war on behalf of the PDP still dripping with anger for losing the presidency. It is a battle that has ramifications, not only for Wike as the state’s sitting governor, but the PDP which sees Amaechi as the architect of the deep crack that led to the seeming collapse of the party.
One must admit that the allegations against Amaechi are indeed weighty; what rankles, however, is the manner in which the governor had sought to procure a judicial ‘conviction’ of Amaechi. The judicial commission of Inquiry headed by Justice George Omereji has turned out to be controversial, not just because of Wike and Justice Omereji’s biased commentaries on Amaechi before and during the sitting, but also because it is largely seen as designed to serve a pre-conceived purpose. In saner climes, all that were unearthed in the circus show are materials that are likely buried in the various hand-over notes by commissioners and heads of Rivers state government departments and agencies.
Did the Integrity Group twist facts in a manner designed to serve an ill-conceived purpose of maligning Amaechi’s integrity? George Feyii and Chamberlin Peterside, his former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Commissioner for Finance respectively, insist so, saying the group deceptively dished out false details about the administration. They said the sale of the Rivers state power assets was a State Executive Council (SEC) decision of August 16, 2012, while the state’s Olympia Hotel was not sold as being peddled by the group, but leased/concessioned in a manner that it would revert to the state government at the end of the lease/concession period.
Wike’s decision to set up a judicial commission of Inquiry to probe Amaechi has turned out the height of what many believe to be desperation. There are divergent legal opinions as to whether the governor had the legal right to set up a ‘judicial’ commission. While inaugurating the commission Governor Nyesom Wike had charged the committee to amongst other things “investigate the illegal sales of the power plants” Expectedly, he refused to appear before the Commission for fear he has already been adjudged guilty.
Amaechi’s ministerial nomination presents a different challenge for the President, whose anti-corruption mantra helped in no small measure in catapulting him to power. The dilemma is that the perception of Amaechi as a corrupt former governor is strong; so also is the opinion that he is, perhaps, the single most influential contributor to the President’s campaign after Bola Ahmed Tinubu. For a man who courageously stood up to his kinsman, former President Jonathan and openly exposed the duplicity in the then ruling party, his travails from within those kinsmen who still see Jonathan as their leader, is understandable.
For President Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, it will amount to great injustice to abandon Amaechi to the designs of the PDP which will be all to happy to devour him.