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Amaechi’s suspension unconstitutional –Dagogo-Jack

JUNE 2, 2013  

Dagogo-Jack

Dr. Manaigbi Dagogo-Jack is the Rivers State Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties. In this interview withCHUKWUDI AKASIKE, he speaks on the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the Peoples Democratic Party

 How would you describe the conduct of the recent Nigerian Governors’ Forum election?

The NGF election that brought up Amaechi is a plus to democracy. I do not think there has been any election of that kind and you will recall that there have been elections in the past in the mode of a consensus, but this was the only time that they really conducted a free and fair election where Governor Amaechi emerged as the chairman. It is a plus to democracy and it is a plus to the voice of the people.

But Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State declared himself the winner after Amaechi had already been announced as the winner of the election.

It is not unexpected that after elections, losers would act in a loose manner. Losers have always reacted in this manner. But I think that what really happened is that people really underestimated the popularity of Governor Chibuike Amaechi. Jonah Jang coming into play within 24 hours was not enough for him to do enough campaign within the governors’ forum. Although the PDP seemed to have okayed his (Jang) candidature, the issue is that the forum is not a PDP matter. It concerns every other political party that is in governance. I would suggest that Jang should accept Amaechi’s victory with proper discipline and respect for democracy.

What is your opinion about Amaechi’s suspension by the PDP?

I am not a member of the PDP, but the issue is very clear; we are in democracy. If you look at the section of the constitution that the national secretary of the party made reference to, that led to the suspension, you would see that that section is still subject to the Nigerian Constitution and this constitution talks about his (Amaechi) own rights. So, I believe that Governor Amaechi should have been invited. Normally and administratively, if anybody writes a petition against you, you should be called upon to respond to the petition. Amaechi should have been given a fair hearing. I think it is not fair enough for them (PDP) to have done that without hearing from the governor. He should have been given the opportunity to make his reply on this query. I think it is undemocratic.

Could this be the reason why governors in the country appear to be divided on the suspension of their colleague?

Every governor is entitled to his own opinion. But the issue is that the PDP has an intra-party problem. If the PDP as a political party cannot manage its intra-party problem and it is allowed to affect other political parties, then it is quite unfortunate. I believe that the PDP has men and women of credibility who can ask questions and reason well too; people who can then quell issues such as this. When Amaechi came on board in Rivers State, there was this cult crisis and it  was pampered until it grew to a big monster that nearly ate all of us. But, this man came with a determined effort to stop criminality to a large extent.

He (Amaechi) is a PDP person. I believe that the President of Nigeria is capable of quelling this matter because he (President Goodluck Jonathan) is the leader of the party and the nation. There are many other people who are qualified to resolve this matter. It is quite unfortunate that nobody is trying to quell this matter and the thing is increasing to a level that it is affecting other political parties. That is why the CNPP is concerned in Rivers State. There are protests here and there; people are carrying placards and there was a bomb blast in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. We need to speak out or this evil will continue because righteous people have refused to talk.

Don’t you think the governor and the PDP in the state should embrace dialogue first since it was reported that the petition against Amaechi came from the party at the state level?

Administratively, if the PDP has an issue against the governor, they should first of all communicate with him. If you communicate with the man and he does not come, you give him another time as a reminder and if he still does not come, then you tell the PDP elders and if you cannot have your way, then you can tell the party at the national level what the matter is all about. Having spoken to the national PDP, then the party at the national level will invite him. I do not think that if this process was taken, the governor will refuse to respond.

I hear of a court judgement in Rivers State that okayed the G.U. Ake exco. We also hear of a court judgement okaying the current exco. The question is that which of the court judgement should the common Nigerian obey? Normally, you are supposed to obey any court ruling, but which of these are the citizens supposed to obey? They are all high courts; one is within Rivers State while the other one is in Abuja. It shows that the judiciary should also check itself. The conflicting rulings from two high courts in Nigeria are confusing. What I am saying is that the judiciary has also caused some of these problems. That is why there must be proper reforms in the judiciary.

Do you agree that Amaechi should go to court if the PDP fails to rescind its decision on his suspension?

I think that there are two issues; dialogue is one of the issues. But if any of them does not want to dialogue, you have no other option than to go to court. They did not listen to him (Amaechi) and they went ahead to set up an 11-man committee. I think it is the decision of the governor. He has the powers to take a decision on that. But I think that anywhere dialogue does not work, the judiciary becomes the last hope of the common man. Dialogue is an instrument of making peace all over the world. However, where dialogue does not work, what do you expect of the common man? I think the judiciary is another channel to ask for justice.

Do you think Governor Amaechi deserves what he is currently passing through politically?

No! The pressure on him is so much. Let us remember that we see good roads; we see new hospitals, we see a lot of things happening and you see him (Amaechi) also talking about light because it does not fall within his powers. This man has fared well. So, somebody that has fared well should be encouraged and not to be slaughtered in this manner. It is no fair. For you to hit so hard on a man that has fared well is not fair.

What does the suspension of the governor by the PDP portend for the nation’s democracy?

The suspension, we learnt was based on the suspension of the Obia/Akpor council chairman and others. That matter was deliberated upon and a decision was taken by the House of Assembly as stipulated by the constitution. They need to invite the Obio/Akpor council chairman for questioning. The matter concerns misappropriation of funds at the council, so, the House said the council chairman should step aside pending the end of investigation on the mater. The council chairman was suspended and not removed. So, the suspension of the council chairman is the decision of the House of Assembly and it does not concern the governor.