NGF: Jonathan’s Aides Blocks Amechi From Greeting President

NGF: Jonathan’s Aides Blocks Amechi From Greeting President

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum crisis is gradually taking its toll on the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi who is insisting that he is the authentic chairmen of the forum as it was played out last night at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the Presidential dinner organised by President Jonathan, when a presidential bodyguard stopped Amaechi from getting close to Jonathan to pay homage. We gathered that Amaechi and his loyalists arrived the venue when the event was already in progress and made attempts to get close and exchange pleasantries with Jonathan but his move was blocked by some of the president’s aides. 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 President Goodluck Jonathan who was seated in company of Presidents Joyce Banda of Malawi and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, apparently to pay homage. However, a presidential bodyguard blocked the governor from meeting the president. The governor resisted for a while but had to return to his seat when it was glaring the bodyguard won’t allow him. Also, Governor Amaechi, who was seated in company of the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswil Akpabio, was not recognised at the event while Akpabio was introduced as chairman of the PDP Governors Forum. There was also a slight altercation between Amaechi and Akpabio. The duo reportedly accused each other of being undemocratic. “You are not democratic,” Amaechi reportedly told Akpabio and the latter instantly fired back, “You too, you are not democratic.”