Amaechi is not above the law – Presidency

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi

The Presidency has absolved President Goodluck Jonathan from the travails of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, saying the governor is not above the law.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak,  stated this at a briefing in Abuja on Monday  on the grounding of Amaechi’s aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.

He added that Jonathan had no interest in who becomes chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Gulak, who said the president had not authorised any minister to canvass votes for him for 2015 presidential election, submitted that there was no plan to probe former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

He said the grounding of Amaechi’s aircraft had  nothing to do any witch-hunting.

The presidential aide added that it was about obedience to lay down rules.

Gulak said, “If you are a governor and you are flying a private jet, you must do it within the extant laws. There are laws governing the usage of private jets in this country and the world over and because you are a governor does not give you the licence to flout the laws governing your country.

“Nigerians should be told in clear terms that no governor is above the law and the fact that you have immunity does not mean that you flout the law the way you want.”

The presidential aide said contrary to insinuations that Jonathan had interest in the NGF, the President  did  not care who led the group.

He stated, “Mr. President is ready to work with any chairman of the NGF.  After all, the President is a constitutional organ while the NGF is not a constitutional organ.

“So why should Mr. President care about them. He does not care about who becomes the chairman of NGF.”

On the 2015 elections, Gulak said Jonathan had not asked anybody to campaign for him.

He was reacting to   a statement credited to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory,  Olajumoke Akinjide, during a ceremony in Ibadan, where she openly canvassed votes for the President in 2015.

The presidential aide stated, “We have said it before that whether Mr. President will contest in 2015 will be unveiled to Nigerians in 2014. Whatever anybody is saying or doing is on his own.”

PUNCH