The Politics of Governor Amaechi's suspension

Political stakeholders in Rivers State have started reacting to the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). Our investigation shows that what is at play at the moment, is who gets what, how and when, not just at the federal level but also at the state and local levels in Rivers State.
While politicians whose political wheel will be better oiled by Amaechi's downfall are arrayed against him, those who need him to retain their positions or realise their ambitions are with him but in the final analysis, as far as PDP is concerned, Amaechi is fighting against very formidable forces. He may have to move to another political platform in order to realise his future political ambition
Whereas Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East and Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) described the suspension as unnecessary, Barrister Emmanuel Okah a former Information Commissioner in the State is in full support of the suspension.
Responding to questions from ionigeria.com, Senator Abe said, “It (suspension) will not solve the problem of PDP. What the Party needs now is reconciliation and healing”.
However, Barrister Emmanuel Okah described the suspension as long overdue.
According to Okah who was the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Peter Odili and later Information Commissioner during the brief tenure of Celestine Omehia as Governor of Rivers State, “it has become obvious that his activities are not in the interest of the Party”.
“If you look at the pattern of voting at the NGF election, you will see that he is cherished more by the opposition parties so let him go and join them”, Okah added.
The  National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh announced Amaechi’s suspension in a statement on Monday in Abuja  for violating Articles 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the Parties Constitution
While Amaechi’s suspension may not be unconnected with the ongoing controversy trailing last Friday’s Chairmanship election of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) which has pitched him against the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan, local Rivers State politics is also at play.
It would be recalled that in 2007 after winning PDP’s governorship primaries, Amaechi was substituted with Celestine Omehia because he was alleged to be corrupt and as such former President Olusegun Obasanjo did not want him to fly the flag of the Party. Omehia flew the flag of the Party, campaigned and was declared the winner of the Governorship election and sworn-in.
Amaechi refused to relent, he went to the Supreme Court and in a judgment that still amazes many, the Supreme declared Amaechi as the governor of the State despite the fact that he was not fielded by the party and he did not participate in the campaigns.
For some analysts the Supreme Court should have cancelled the election totally and called for a fresh election since Rotimi Amaechi did not contest the election, Rotimi Amaechi, also, did not pray for such orders, namely swearing him in as the governor, in his case. If he had contested the election, perhaps he would not have won the election. The Justices of the Supreme Court however contended that the electorates voted for PDP at the election and since Amaechi was the duly nominated candidate, he should be sworn-in.
With the current crisis, the Odili/Omehia group in Rivers PDP now have the opportunity to take over the control of the Party in the State. If the Odili/Omehia’s group takes over the Party machinery, it will therefore mean that the supporters of Amaechi will loss out.
While Senator Abe, who was first appointed Secretary to the Government by Amaechi belong to Amaechi’s group, Barrister Okah belong to the Odili/Omehia’s group.
So, it is not just 2015 politics at the federal level that is at play,  It is also about who becomes the next governor of Rivers State.