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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
The smooth screening of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, through the legislative courtesy of ‘take a bow and leave’ pattern, has been described as a reward for excellence and hard work.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region of Nigeria, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who noted this in a statement circulated to the media in Port Harcourt on Friday, also commended the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, for giving Amaechi his due regard as a former two-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Chairman of Nigerian Conference of Speakers’ Forum, as well as considering his contributions to the development of both Rivers State and Nigeria.
Eze, who served as the National Publicly Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), a foundation member of the APC, also commended the three Senators from Rivers State, Senator George Thompson Sekibo representing the Eastern Senatorial District, Senator Betty Apiafi representing the Rivers West senatorial district and my good friend Senator Barinada Mpigi of Rivers South East Senatorial district for distancing themselves from the N2 billion plot by functionaries of the Rivers state government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike and Senator Magnus Abe, to oppose the nomination of Amaechi and embarrass him during the screening process.
According to him, the “Distinguished senators have shown character by their comportment on the floor of the senate and reported pre-meeting with the former minister ahead of the screening exercise. From what I gathered, the senators had a meeting with him before the screening started, which indicates that they are not part of the conspiracy being plotted by Chief Wike and former Senator Abe to embarrass their benefactor on the floor of the Senate and ultimately nullify his nomination.
“I believe that Senator Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the Rivers caucus, suing for peace in the politics of our dear state, also deserves commendation for the role of a peacemaker he played. He showed that politics is about development, which will not come without a peaceful atmosphere. Therefore, I commend the three senators for showing solidarity to Amaechi who, by every means, is the authentic leader of politics in Rivers state and I urge Wike and Abe to emulate the three senators in order to move the State forward peacefully.
“I also urge Wike and Abe to sheath their swords and cease all instruments of media war and propaganda and allow peace to prevail in the politics of Rivers state so that collectively we can rebuild and recover the State from its present sad, parlous and pitiable condition. Like they say: peace if priceless, terror is senseless”, he said.
Eze, who could not hold back his joy over the turn of events on Wednesday, commended the Senate President and all Senators of the 9th Assembly for exhibiting maturity and high level politics by according Amaechi his due respect and honour for all he has contributed towards the emancipation and development of Nigeria.
Eze commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his love and solidarity to the APC leader in the South-South region of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Dr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by renominating him as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and urged him to post him back to the Ministry of Transportation to enable him accomplish the revolution he has started in the Ministry for a better, virile and vibrant Rail system, outstanding Ports and pursuance of the best and visionary Maritime Sector in Africa.
He reassured Nigerians that the second coming of Amaechi as a Minister will enable him showcase in another level what leadership is all about.
