The All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of Rivers State have called on the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, and a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abiye Sekibo, to stop their campaign of calumny against the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.
In a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt, which was signed by the South-south Zonal Secretary, David Okumgba, a copy of which was made available to journalists yesterday, they stated that Amaechi, as a former governor of the state, impacted more positively on the people than Wike and Sekibo combined.
They noted as leaders of the Wakirike Nation, they could attest to the fact that Amaechi, as a serving minister, was also positively impacting their people and communities in the state.
The group added that nobody should portray Wakirike indigenes as ingrates, noting that they were solidly behind the minister,
“As critical stakeholders and custodians of our traditional and democratic ethos, it is therefore incumbent on us to condemn in its totality, the mischievous and self-serving statements as they were not only untrue but unintelligently contrived to procure an evil alliance with the Emperor of Rivers State, aimed at unleashing another reign of terror on the Wakirike Nation for the selfish control of its political territory thereby returning it to another era of ignominy,” they said.
The group stated that the allegation that Amaechi lacked respect for the traditional institution was incorrect, adding that it was rather Wike, who had failed woefully in that regard.
“The forum recalls that during the administration of Amaechi as governor of the state, traditional rulers/institutions were highly respected and accorded their pride of place. It was in demonstration of this respect for exalted stools, that Amaechi ensured peace was restored in Okirika.
“In furtherance of his respect for traditional institutions and love for Wakirike kingdom, Amaechi, personally attended the coronation ceremony of the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma in 2014 and equally built and named a 44,000 capacity stadium after a respected Wakirike son, the prestigious Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka in Igwuruta-Ali Rivers State.
“Therefore, we frown at the shallow comparison of Amaechi to his successor, Wike, in this regard. Rivers people were dumbfounded a fortnight ago watching on national television Wike, infamous for his ‘Usman Dan Fodio treatment’, on Rivers traditional rulers, in a saintly obeisance before the Oba of Benin.
“For this reason, we call on our revered traditional rulers to ignore the mischief makers whose stock-in-trade is to fan embers of war by luring unsuspecting paramount rulers into partisan political activities, thereby plunging their stools into crisis and eventually bringing them to disrepute,” it stated.
On Sekibo, the group challenged him to come out publicly to identity any project he had attracted to Okirika, even as a son of the area, and they would show him what Amaechi had done for the people of the area.
