Ministerial List: Wike, Amaechi Take Battle To Senate

THE bitter feud between governor of Rivers State, Mr.
Nyesom Wike and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi may
shift to the Senate as from tomorrow.
The fight will be over how to stop Amaechi’s screening
and confirmation as minister representing Rivers State in
President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.
Last Wednesday, the president forwarded the first batch
of ministerial nominees to Senate President, Bukola
Saraki, who is expected to unveil the list to Senators in
plenary tomorrow.
Senate Majority Leader Ali Ndume told newsmen at the
weekend that the screening and confirmation of
ministerial nominees will start on Wednesday.
Reports, however, indicated at the weekend that Wike
and his loyalists in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
have lined up against Amaechi even before he steps foot
into the chamber.
Amaechi’s kinsmen in Rivers State chapter of the APC
had also vowed to resist any move to scuttle his
clearance by the Senate.
A source in the PDP caucus indicated at the weekend
how some party stalwarts met with PDP Senators to
“pay back Amaechi in his own coin” for “fighting his own
brother and siding with an outsider” and also, “defecting
from the party to the APC.”
The plot may also effect the ministerial nominee from
Ekiti State, it was gathered. “We are already mobilising
our members in Rivers and Ekiti states to reject the
nominees appointed by the President.”
Former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is the
state nominee.
On the heels of the plot, the APC in Rivers has also
threatened “to march on Abuja because of Amaechi. We
have information about the plot against Amaechi. We are
ready. We will mobilise and let the PDP know that we
have supporters to match their strength.”
When contacted, APC chairman in the state, Dr. Davies
Ibiamu Ikanya admitted he heard the rumours and has
told members to be prepared.
“The APC in Rivers has borne with equanimity all the
numerous attacks by the PDP and its leadership against
our leader and former governor Chibuike Amaechi.
“It is sad, indeed, as the former governor has done
nothing to deserve such evil behaviour. We have decided
as a party that we will no longer keep silent. We will
match the PDP action for action and word for word.”
Wike, however, dismissed the reports as “mere
fabrication and speculation.”
The governor’s media aide, Simeon Nwakudu told Daily
Sun it was unfortunate that some people could just “sit
somewhere and concoct fabrications.
“In the case of APC, it’s a political party that’s been
roundly rejected by the people of Rivers.
“The party is peopled by men who lack probity, by
extremely corrupt persons as exemplified by Amaechi,
who shunned the Commission of Enquiry set up by the
state government.”
There was also reports that some states would soon
forward petitions to the Senate concerning their
ministerial nominees.
In Kaduna State, a group, Centrum Initiative for
Development and Fundamental Human Rights Initiative
has appealed to the three Senators from the state to
intervene, as there were doubts about the ethnicity of the
state’s ministerial nominee.
The nominee, Amina Mohammed, was said to be from
Gombe State.
There are also plans to stop Mr. Adebayo Shittu, the
ministerial nominee from Oyo State.
Source: SunNews