Rivers killings: Amaechi, Wike in war of words

THE feud between the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, reached a boiling point on Tuesday when the former accused the latter of being responsible for the deaths recorded in the state during the 2015 general elections.

Amaechi had declared during a public lecture in Port Harcourt to mark his 50th birthday that God would not allow a killer to be the governor of Rivers State.

But Wike, who had attended another public lecture in the state capital, said he had no record of killing anybody and expressed displeasure that a public officer like Amaechi could speak in manner that was not expected of him.

Wike expressed optimism that he would be sworn in as the governor of the state on May 29, despite moves by Amaechi to scuttle his inauguration.

Speaking further, Amaechi stated that the governor-elect should realise that he (Wike) was his chief of staff, adding that Wike’s record was with him.

Explaining that he will never kill anybody because of personal ambition, the governor dismissed Wike’s description of him (Amaechi) as a corrupt person, adding that the governor-elect was accusing him of corruption because he (Wike) was looking for a way to negotiate with him (Amaechi) and his supporters.

Amaechi said, “In a bid for Wike to be governor, he hired …. an ex-militant. They killed a young man in Okrika and cut off his private parts. They slashed a young man’s throat and decided to hang his head on a tree.

“When I wanted to become governor, God took me aside and allowed Rivers people to vote for Celestine Omehia and He brought me back. So, nobody died. In 2011, the opposition joined us to vote for us; nobody died.

“But because of one man’s ambition, we were losing human beings everyday. Walking like a thug, killing people like a thug. The God I worship will answer our prayers. God will not allow those who kill people to be governor of Rivers State. God will allow only those who worship Him. I am not perfect.

“Even some of you pray more than me. My priest told me God said we would defeat Nyesom Wike. God said so. The same way God told me in 2007 that I would be governor. God will not allow us to make a killer, somebody who has killed human beings, to become the governor of Rivers State.

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“I have been listening to Mr. Nyesom Wike and I have been trying not to reply him. He has been accusing me of corruption and I have been trying to keep quiet over the issue of corruption. A thief cannot call me corrupt. The first lesson he needs to learn is that he was Chief of Staff to my government. If I have no records, I have records on him.

“Why Nyesom Wike is talking the way he is talking is that they are looking for us to come and negotiate with them, so that they can illegally stay in office. They cannot stay like that. We are already in court (tribunal),” Amaechi said.

Recalling how he decided not to probe his predecessor, Dr. Peter Odili, the governor pointed out that the people would at the end ask him about his achievements and not the number of people his administration probed.

However, Wike, who spoke through his Media aide, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, added that Amaechi’s comment against him was an indication that the governor was not worthy of holding public office.

He said, “Only a man who is irresponsible would make such a comment. It shows that he is not worthy of the public office he occupies. He (Amaechi) is making comments that are completely out of place for people who should be in leadership position.

“To begin with and contrary to what Governor Amaechi said, the governor-elect is a God-fearing person, who believes in the rule of law. He is not involved in any killing and he will never be involved. He has never done anything that is outside of the law.

“Such unguarded comments should be disregarded by members of the public and well-meaning persons just like Channels Television did and apologised seriously to Nigerians. Amaechi promoted insecurity everywhere.

“God has already made it possible for Barrister Nyesom Wike to be governor. The people have already endorsed it as they voted for him massively. Amaechi is too small to stop the will of the people. On May 29, 2015, that will would be consummated during the swearing-in of Barrister Nyesom Wike.”