a fresh war of words over allegations that President Goodluck Jonathan
is training snipers and keeping 1,000 people on a watch list.
While the governor stated that he was the number one person on the
President's watch list and that he had evidence to support this
assertion, the Presidency said the governor was like a drunken man in
a china shop who was only interested in bringing down everybody with
him.
The Presidency further dared the governor to prove his allegation.
The governor, who spoke toSaturday metro through his Chief of Staff,
Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, in Port Harcourt, on Thursday,
said that he was waiting for the invitation of the National Human
Rights Commission.
Obasanjo had, in a letter dated December 2, 2013, accused Jonathan of
putting 1,000 people on a watch list and having a killer-squad.
Obasanjo had also accused the President of training snipers. The
President has denied these allegations, calling on the former
president to provide evidence to back his allegations.
But at the All Progressives Congress rally, held at the Liberation
Stadium, Port Harcourt on Saturday, Amaechi said that he was number
one on Jonathan's watch list.
He had said: "I read the President's letter; he said Obasanjo should
prove and name those on the list. I am number one on the list. I am
number one."
Okocha toldSaturday Metro that the governor had enough evidence to
back his statement.
He said, "The governor knows what he is talking about and this is not
just a claim; it is what is happening. There are indices the governor
will use to buttress his point. We will not make many comments now
until the invitation from the NHRC comes."
He stated, "One thing you should know is that Governor Amaechi does
not say one thing today on an issue and say another thing tomorrow on
the same issue. You are aware of the battle between us and the police.
Considering all we have passed through in the hands of the police,
would anybody doubt the fact that the governor is on the Presidency's
watch list?"
However, the Presidency dared Amaechi to go ahead and prove his
allegation that he is one of the 1,000 persons on the alleged
political watch list of the President.
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed
Gulak, threw the challenge in an interview with one of our
correspondents on Thursday.
Gulak said it was clear to all that Amaechi had completely lost
bearing and that Nigerians were aware of the governor's antics.
According to him, no sane man would be talking like the governor is
talking to the President.
He said, "Let him (Amaechi) go ahead and prove his claim. I don't
really want to talk about him because he has lost credibility. He is
just like a drunken man in a china shop that wants to bring down
everybody with him.
"Nigerians are aware of his antics. He has completely lost bearing and
the support of the people. When a leader loses the support of his
people while still in office, he will react like a mad dog. No sane
man will be talking to the President the way Amaechi is doing."
Meanwhile, NHRC has said that it will meet in January to consider
the request to investigate allegations of human rights abuses raised
by Obasanjo against the President in a letter to the latter.
The President had on Tuesday through the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), asked
the NHRC to investigate Obasanjo's allegations.
Saturday Metro learnt that the Governing Board of the commission
chaired by Prof. Chidi Odinkalu had yet to see the memo sent to it
by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
A source said, "The commission has not taken any decision because the
board has yet to meet to evaluate the concerns raised in the memo.
This is holiday period; the board can only see the memo in January".
Saturday Metro further learnt that the NHRC would decide the
procedure to be adopted in investigating the allegations contained in
the letter written by Obasanjo.
A source in the commission disclosed this to one of our correspondents
on Thursday. The source did not disclose when the council would meet
over the matter, but it is expected that the meeting will take place
after the festive season.
The source, who did not wish to be named, explained that the Governing
Council would decide whether it would invite Obasanjo to a meeting
or adopt a public hearing procedure.
The Commission's Director of Public Affairs and Communication,
Mohammed Ladan, told our correspondent on the telephone that he was on
leave, and as a result, was not in a position to confirm the procedure
to be adopted in the planned investigation.
"I don't know the pattern it will take, I am actually on leave right
now," he said in response to our correspondent's enquiries.
Efforts by our correspondent to get in touch with the Executive
Secretary of the Commission, Prof.
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