The inability of the Senate to undertake the screening process of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for the federal cabinet is due to growing opposition against him within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Amaechi’s screening has been postponed twice, the second time because the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions was unable to submit a completed report on the outstanding petitions against the nominee. There are also additional allegations that there is a court order against Mr. Amaechi from Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, from current Governor Nyesome Wike.
When contacted, an aide to Mr. Amaechi dismissed the existence of such an order, telling a SaharaReporters correspondent: “Nobody has seen any court order. It is rumored but no one has seen it.”
The same aide admitted that however that “the matter [allegations of corruption by Governor Wike] is in court,” and “preventing the Senate from entertaining petitions” against him.
Sources within the APC that Governor Wike has been bribing members of the National Assembly to protest Mr. Amaechi’s nomination as minister. Our source claims that, as a result of Governor Wike’s efforts, Mr. Amaechi’s screening continues to be postponed from fear that his attempt at getting screened successfully might be thwarted.
The APC opposition against Mr. Amaechi, together with disgruntled members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), could prevent his appointment to President Buhari’s government, this source told SaharaReporters.
