Amaechi receives Jonathan in Port Harcourt

Amaechi receives Jonathan at PH International Airport

File Photo: Amaechi receives Jonathan at PH International Airport

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Few days after the Presidential Security Guards disallowed Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Governor of Rivers and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum access to extend his compliments to President Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi was at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Saturday to receive the President.

Jonathan arrived at the airport from Otueke, his village, in Bayelsa State on his way to Abuja airport on Saturday.

Amaechi receives Jonathan at PH International Airport
Amaechi receives Jonathan at PH International Airport
Shortly after the Presidential jet touched down and taxied to a stop, Amaechi walked on the red carpet and shook hands with the President.

As part of the Airport formalities, Amaechi introduced the President to a cross section of members of the state executive council.

After that, President Jonathan held the hand of Amaechi as they held a brief discussion. At that point, crowd of supporters who watched the mild and interesting drama hailed both leaders with shouts of joy.

At another end of the airport were Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education and some of the former loyalists to Amaechi who have defected to the Wike’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by Mr Felix Obuah in the state.They jostled for the President’s attention.

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All the while, they kept a safe distance watching Jonathan and Amaechi exchange pleasantries and have a brief discussion.

Wike and members of his faction also exchanged pleasantries with President Jonathan.

The convivial atmosphere that radiated in the Airport was a direct contrast to a similar incident when the Mrs Patience Jonathan, the First Lady, visited Port Harcourt, two weeks ago.

Amaechi introduces cabinet to Jonathan
Amaechi introduces cabinet to Jonathan

Earlier, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, the Commissioner of Police, who had also two weeks ago called the Governor a “tyrant and a dictator who want to be answered Yes Sir,” met the Governor Face-to-face and gave him full compliments and shook hands with him before other service commanders of the different forces took their turns to also give full compliments to the Governor.

To build rapprochement with the President, Amaechi had to postpone the meeting of his faction of NGF to honour and attend the Presidential dinner at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.

It is not yet clear whether the convivial atmosphere was just a dummy meant for the cameras and supporters to show that no personal misunderstanding between the Governor and Mr President exists.

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