NGF: Show proof that I voted, Mimiko tells Amaechi

Vice Chairman of the Jonah Jang faction of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Wednesday, challenged his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi to substantiate his claim that he (Mimiko) voted at the disputed election by producing the video evidence.

The Ondo State governor in a statement in Akure was reacting to Amaechi’s claim that he (Mimiko) voted at the controversial election which Governor Amaechi was said to have won.

Mimiko said: “Amaechi should not hide under religion to cover up his anti-democratic dispositions. Nothing stops Governor Amaechi from proving to the world that I voted by using the same video he has been using to tell the public that there was an election.

“If Amaechi is saying I voted at the election, I think he should prove it to the whole world that I did. I sincerely believe that a process must have led to the declaration of result contained in their few minutes video clip. That later part can’t come in isolation. I challenge him to show the entire proceedings, including where I voted”.

While accusing the Rivers State Governor of ”anti-democratic disposition,” Mimiko said Amaechi “cannot take ecclesiastic refuge for his undemocratic dispositions by dragging the church into the Forum’s disputed election as a way of covering up his anti-democratic tendencies”.

According to him, “Amaechi should tell the world whether or not he presided over his own election despite cries that he should step aside for an interim chairman to preside over the same election as it is the practice in any democratic setting

“He should also tell the world whether or not he was the sole provider of ballot papers and ballot box used for the charade where he was also a contestant.

“He should tell the world why he insisted he must contest for another term even when he knew that negates the norm in the Forum.”

File Photo: Pro-Jonathan state governors, addressing the media after presenting their factional chairman. From left, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Goodswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), factional Vice Chairman; and Jonah Jang (Plateau), factional chairman.

Mimiko accused the Rivers State Governor of betraying his colleagues, describing it as “the height of treachery for the Governor to have installed secret video camera to record his colleagues without their consent simply because he is acting the script of another agenda inimical to the progress of the Forum.

He declared that “It is not acceptable, it is undemocratic, it is the height of desperation, it won’t work because Nigerians can no longer afford to be fooled.”

South-South leaders meet to reconcile Jonathan, Amaechi
Meanwhile, moved by the lingering political quagmire between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, elders and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from South-South, yesterday, met as part of arrangements to reconcile them.

The meeting which was called by former Federal Commissioner and the National Leader of South-South, Chief Edwin Clark, was conceived among others to take a decisive step on how to resolve the crisis.

Speaking before the leaders went into a closed door meeting, Chief Clark disclosed that  Black American and Human Rights Activist, Jesse Jackson had visited him alongside some traditional rulers from the South-South to put an end to the problem.

Clark noted that he assured him that the issues would be looked into, and that the meeting was called for the purpose.

Chief Clark said the two issues which were very important to him were “first, the mid-term performance report of President Jonathan’s administration and second, the on-going crisis between Governor Chibuke Amaechi and the Presidency, particularly since the so-called elections for leadership change at the Nigeria Governors Forum.

And because the two principal names repeatedly mentioned in the media are from the South-South zone, we have a duty to look into the issue and take a position.

According to him, “we should necessarily intervene in whatever manner appropriate to bring peace to our troubled zone.

In addition to these key issues, I also believe that the elders and leaders of the party at the zone have the responsibility to speak on the challenges facing our son, Mr. President.

Whereas we know the problems of this country pre-existed his ascendancy to power; whereas we know he has worked with a clear sense of responsibility if reports that Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s undying craze to be the chairman of the Governors Forum is premised on his ambition to use it as a platform to become the Vice President in 2015, whose interest is he intending to serve; the interest of the people of the South-South or his personal interest?

“As a party, I believe we need to dispassionately look at these and other issues and make our position known to Nigerians. We must rise from this meeting with definite options to stop Governor Amaechi from pursing that madness.

“If he must contest in deference to his constitutional right, let him contest for the office of president because the South-South of today is not interested in any other office than the president.”

At press time, the meeting was still in progress.

Roll call
Chief Edwin Clark, Senator Stella Omu; member, BoT, Chief Don Etiebet; Dr. Stephen Oru, National Vice Chairman, PDP, South South; Chief Joe Ediowele, Secretary, PDP, South South; Chairman, PDP, Delta, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi.

Others are former Deputy Speakers, Chibudom Nwuche; Austin Okpara; Senator Lee Maeba; Senator Ewa Henshaw; Senator Victor Oyofo; former Senatorial aspirant, Chief Richard Lamai; Cairo Ojougboh; former Minister of State, Education, Kenneth Gbagi; General Cletus Emein; General Etukudo; AVM, Idongesit Nkanga; Chief Ayakeme Whiskey; Ima Niboro.