The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has said that it views with amusement, newspaper reports this morning credited to the governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike in which he claimed to have been the engine room responsible for the emergence of the former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The claim was reportedly made by the governor yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt while interacting with journalists.
The APC said it’s not surprised at the governor’s penchant for laying claim to what he is not and a cursory look at his recent political history side-by-side his latest statement will provide proof of this character trend of his.
The party said, “though he was already the Obio/Akpor Council Chairman by 2006, Barr. Nyesom Wike was not a member of the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi political caucus in Rivers State by 2007. We challenge the governor to fault this claim.
“However, by the time the so-called K-leg issue ensued which led to the denial of the PDP gubernatorial ticket to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi before the general elections of 2007, Nyesom Wike offered himself to undertake the running of errands within the judiciary such as liaising with bailiffs, registrars and other officials of the judiciary in view of the matter filed by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi challenging his denial of the PDP ticket. The assignment also provided him opportunity to liaise between Amaechi supporters in support of the matter in court.
“However, as things later turned out, Barr. Nyesom Wike capitalised on the opportunity to collect huge sums of money from many associates of Rt. Hon. Amaechi all in the name of supporting the matter in court. Some of the victims of Wike’s scam were to later recount their sad stories. To this day, Barr. Nyesom Wike has not accounted for the humongous sums of money he collected from friends and associates of Chibuike Amaechi in the name of that court matter.
“No sooner, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi assumed office as Governor in October, 2007 than Barr. Nyesom Wike started to lobby to be appointed the Commissioner of finance for the state. However, Governor Amaechi bluntly refused and his reason for refusal was based on the governor’s full knowledge of the cavalier character of Wike especially on matters concerning money.
“In 2011, Barr. Nyesom Wike embarked on yet another intense lobby. This time he wanted to run for Senate, in place of the then incumbent, Senator George Sekibo. The then Governor refused to support him on his ambition. The Governor insisted that Senator George Sekibo should be allowed to do a second term. This infuriated Nyesom Wike but to douse his anger, Governor Amaechi offered him the post of Director-General of his 2011 re-election campaign.
“Despite the sad fact that Nyesom Wike could not account for several billions of Naira contributed by party members for that campaign, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi eventually nominated him to the Presidency for ministerial appointment. His nomination met a brick wall in view of adverse security reports on his person and character. However, Governor Amaechi pressured the President persistently until Wike was eventually appointed a junior Minister by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The APC has put out the above brief narrative at great pains but just to situate the bogus claims of Nyesom Wike where it belongs and also to ask some salient questions. Where and when did Barr. Nyesom Wike acquire the experience that turned him into a political engine room for Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi? Or does the killing of over 100 persons just to grab power suddenly turn one into a political engine room? When does betraying your close friends, allies and Rivers people for political power confer on one a political engine room status?
“The APC would like to categorically state that this repeated statement by governor Wike and his recent moves to probe the Amaechi administration is a self-serving and fruitless journey of vendetta that will yield nothing for him. We know that it is all about politics especially having known that the possibility for a re-run governorship election in Rivers State looms. The intention of governor Wike is to sufficiently pour tar on the person and reputation of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, his friends, the APC including its Candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside. But we assure him he will fail because Rivers people already know Barr Nyesom Wike as an opportunist, betrayer and hypocrite.
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