[Investigation] Why APC Moved Against Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Emergence As SGF, Opting For Onu & Oyegun

by Musa Abdullahi

The soon to be ruling All Progressives congress, APC, leadership have moved against the plans by a section of the party to ensure that the Rivers State Governor and Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign organisation emerges Nigeria’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Sources at the headquarters of the Party in Abuja who do not want their names mentioned tell NewsWireNGR that those against Amaechi believe he will cause more problems for the President-elect, who should not be seen to be rocking the polity now that he has won.

“You Journalist, you already know the personality of Rotimi Amaechi, the day you make him SGF, a sensitive post at that, he automatically assumed the role of the President and will start commandeering Ministers around”.

He continued, “Amaechi has a strong personality but the party will think of what is best for him, but SGF is a no no. That office needs a calm personalty who will be there to ensure the President succeeds, not one who will fight with even party men like he’s been doing with Tinubu lately”.

Amaechi who was one of the major backers of Muhammadu Buhari throughout the campaign, financially and otherwise has been in loggerheads with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, another strong leader by his right whose coalition saw to the formation of APC.

After a series of preparatory meetings ahead of its assumption of control on May 29, the incoming ruling party,APC, has drawn up a zoning arrangement for key federal legislative and executive positions.

The office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation is zoned to the South-east. The incumbent SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, a former senate president, is from Ebonyi State in the South-east.

The zoning to South-east puts paid to speculations that the director-general of the APC presidential campaign organisation and Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, may become the next SGF.

Amaechi said to have spent billions and even borrowed a loan meant for the state to fund the campaign according to sources in Rivers State feels a little disappointed at the decision reached by the party, but he is now lobbying for a Juicier appointment.

It also ends the alleged spirited effort by some APC governors from the North-east to produce the new SGF, with the current Secretary to the State Government of Borno, Ambassador Ahmed Baba Jida, widely suspected to be the choice of the governors.

When NewsWireNGR questioned another influential member of the party on why Amaechi who has always wanted such a position is being let down at this point, he said.  “The actions taken now will determine the success of Buhari, nothing personal, i’m sure its for the interest of the country, we will want Ogbonnaya Onu instead of Amaechi”.

“Onu is part of the foundation of the APC formation and has a very calm persona to carry the party along with General Buhari, Onu and Buhari were together at ANPP before the General formed CPC”. He continued, “As SGF, i think Onu will do much better than an Amaechi, let the leaders look for something else for him”.

One of the party Leaders tells NewsWireNGR, “Initially Amaechi was penciled for SGF but he has a temperament that will not  enable him succeed in that role”.

He opined that the role “of the SGF is for one with a career personality and the task not for aggression. If given to Amaechi he stands a chance to challenge the powers of the president by rocking the boat”.

Ogbonnaya Onu was the first Executive Governor of Abia State, Nigeria from February 1992 to December 1993.  He was the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), until its merger with other Nigerian opposition parties in February 2013 resulted in the creation of the All Progressives Congress.

Meanwhile another source says the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Onyegun is currently being pressured to step down as National chairman for the position of the SGF as he fits into that portfolio.

Oyegun is the first national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria. He was also the Executive Governor of Edo State between 1992 and 1993, during the aborted Nigerian Third Republic.

Oyegun was elected as civilian governor of Edo State on the SDP platform, during the transition to democracy launched by General Ibrahim Babangida and served from January 1992 to November 1993.

He was removed from office after General Sani Abacha seized power. Later, he became a leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). In 2009 he was chairman of the Technical Working Committee of CODER.

It is however not certain that the party will oust Oyegun but Ogbonaya Onu of the ANPP is likely to take the position as he is of a calm character and from the South-east..

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of APC is zoned to North-east, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar widely expected to clinch the post. South-east is given secretary of the BoT.