Soni Daniel
15 November 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – RIVERS State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, must have ignorantly incurred the wrath of the Presidency, following his insistence that Soku/Oluasiri oil wells should not be taken away from his state and given to neighbouring Bayelsa State.
Rivers and Bayelsa states, which constitute President Goodluck Jonathan’s home front, are embroiled in a bitter feud over the ownership of the oil wells.
Protesters, including top traditional and political leaders from the two states have taken turns to vent their anger over any attempt by the other state to claim further revenue from the disputed wells.
But in a swift move to prevent the two sister states from fighting over the oil wells, President Jonathan has held several meetings with the two sides and asked them to sheath their sword.
However, while the rapprochement is ongoing, the Presidency is said to be angry with Amaechi for allegedly being ‘confrontational’ over the oil well saga.
Although Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has not directly confronted any presidential officials over the matter, it was learnt that the Presidency suspects that he is being used by some Northern elements to work against the establishment.
According to one competent source, the impression in the Villa is that Amaechi is working towards becoming a vice president to a northern presidential aspirant and has not given due respect to ‘constituted authorities’.
Specifically, the action of the governor is seen as an affront on the powers that be and unbecoming of a man who should rally round the President at all times because of his affinity to the President.
The government is said to have been miffed by the governor’s silence on the amount of oil revenue the Presidency has so far ordered the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to refund to Rivers State based on unmerited claims by other states over time.
