Amaechi Urges Incoming Govs Not to Allow Division in NGF

Says without justice, no reconciliation with Wike

Rivers Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday urged incoming governors not to allow anybody to divide the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Amaechi made the call at a church service to mark his 50th birthday at Corpus Christi Cathedral, Port Harcourt. The governor, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the country began to have problems with the Federation Account when the governor’s forum became divided.

“May God bless all the governors. For the new ones coming in, please do not let anybody break the NGF.”

“It was after the NGF became divided that money began to miss in the country. “When we were there, we would go and meet the President that some money was missing and we would not agree until the money was returned,’’ he said.

Amaechi also urged the incoming governors to assist president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to transform the country.

He commended Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State for standing by him during the crisis that rocked the NGF.

“Let me thank the Governor of Edo for standing by me at the heat of the moment when my friends from the South-South left me.

“Oshiomhole told me `I am not standing by you on party lines, but on principles’,’’ he said.

Amaechi said he became governor through hard work and God’s blessing. He also commended the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve them.

Amaechi thanked former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, for giving him the opportunity to serve his administration.

In his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Bishop Camillus Etukudoh, urged Buhari to tackle the challenges facing the country.

He also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for his administration’s transformation agenda.

“For the incoming administration, the country has enormous challenges like insecurity, unemployment, epileptic power supply, corruption.

“We pray God to give our leaders the courage to tackle these problems effectively,’’ he said.

Etukudoh congratulated Amaechi on his 50th birthday.

“You have left no one in doubt that you are a courageous person with a vision. We also believe that you have touched the lives of many people from the position of Speaker to Governor,’’ he said.

The Bishop congratulated Rivers governor-elect, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and called for peace and reconciliation in the state.

Meanwhile, Amaechi, yesterday declared that he would not make peace with his state governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, unless he obtains justice in the areas the governor-elect has hurt the people of the state.

He was responding to an appeal from the Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, Most Rev. Camillus Etokudoh, that he and Wike should settle their political differences in the interest of the people of the state.

Etokudor said: “As for the out-going governor and the incoming governor, I urge them to work together so that there will be peace. We need peace in Rivers State.

“There can be no reconciliation without forgiveness. There will be no peace without reconciliation. So, it is time for the out-going governor and the in-coming governor to reconcile so that peace will return to Rivers State. No matter their differences they should reconcile in the interest of peace”.

He added, “My greatest joy will come the day I will see Amaechi, Wike, Dr. Peter Odili and Chief Celestine Omehia come into this church for a thanksgiving.”

But in his response, Amaechi insisted that justice must be seen to have been done before he can think of forgiving and settling with Wike.

In his characteristic manner, Amaechi said: “My lordship talked about forgiveness. In the Catholic Church, you don’t oppose the views of your bishop. His words represent an order. If you oppose him you may be barred from taking Holy Communion. You are not a true Catholic if you don’t receive the Holy Communion. But your lordship, the same Catholic doctrine also states that justice comes before forgiveness.

“All those that were killed during the last general election must get justice. Their families must get justice. Our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), must get justice first at the election petition tribunal. Our mandate must be retrieved at the tribunal.

“I am surprised that My Lord congratulated Wike here today. I am using this opportunity to call on the church to join the APC in praying to God so that we can reclaim our mandate. Reclaiming our mandate at the election petition tribunal will represent a measure of justice. We must seek justice before reconciliation.”