The civil war in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be spreading.
There is a huge plot to get Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi out of office, but some founding fathers of the party are backing him.
The party stalwarts have decided to pitch their tent with democracy and rule of law, instead of arbitrary clampdown by the party leadership.
Some forces in the Presidency still met on Monday night on how to secure the support of “seven to 10 more members” of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Amaechi.
Five of the 32 members of the House of Assembly are against Amaechi; they are loyalists of Minister of State (Education) Nyesom Wike.
According to sources, some PDP founding fathers and heavyweights are backing Amaechi because of their belief in preserving the nation’s democracy.
They are of the opinion that the Presidency was wrong in intervening in the internal affairs of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
They have also faulted the approach adopted by the PDP leadership in addressing the challenge facing the party in Rivers State.
Some of these stalwarts are ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, 12 ex-PDP governors and NEC members.
It was gathered that some of the stalwarts had prevailed on the governors who voted for Amaechi to do so to avert any attempt to derail democracy.
A source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “Most of our respected leaders, especially the founding fathers, are displeased with the ‘politics of ambush’ and desperation going on in PDP.
“Some of these leaders actually asked governors, who are their political godsons, to vote for Amaechi in the interest of the nation’s democracy.”
The leaders are said to be angry with the PDP leadership, led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, “for adopting coercion” in managing the party.
“Their position is that it would not be in the interest of the party’s electoral fortunes in 2015 to invest in divisive tendency in any of the 23 states it is controlling, the source said.
Since the suspension of Amaechi was announced, some of these leaders have been sending messages of solidarity to the governor.
But some forces in the Presidency are believed to be planning how to secure the support of seven more members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to impeach Amaechi. If they succeed in wooing the seven to their side, there will be 12 anti-Amaechi lawmakers. But they are not up to the 22/3 majority needed to remove the governor. There are 27 members in the House.
A source said: “The secret meeting was convened on how to impeach Amaechi. Besides, some strategists in the presidency, a few others in attendance were a former South-South governor, a serving South-South governor, a Federal Permanent Secretary, a top member of the PDP NWC and a retired army Officer.
“They drew out what they termed Ameachi’s exit programme. They plotted to move from the suspension of Rivers State Governor to expulsion. After the expulsion, the presidency’s forces will now move for the impeachment of the governor.”
Although the term “lobbying” was used, there were indications of a likely cash inducement of the lawmakers. The Southwest governor is said to have been directed to finance the plan.
Contrary to the Presidency’s denial, it was gathered that Vice-President Namadi Sambo may inaugurate the secretariat of Governor Jonah Jang’s self-imposed arm of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday.
A source said: “The secretariat has been acquired in Maitama District of Abuja. Going by the tentative programme for the inauguration, Vice-President Namadi Sambo is expected to preside over the ceremony.
“All PDP governors and others who are pro-Jang have been invited for the inauguration. The government may also use the ceremony to identify those rated as ‘rebel governors’ who voted against Jang. But this will, no doubt confirm the involvement of the Presidency in the NGF crisis.”
via nigerianeye
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