Amaechi’s Claims
POINT ONE: Immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday, accused his successor, Mr Nyesom Wike, of also being corrupt.
The former governor spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, while addressing loyalists of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
POINT TWO: Amaechi vowed never to appear before the Justice George Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigating alleged sale of the assets of the state by his government, insisting that the establishment of the commission did not comply with constitutional provisions.
The former governor said he will appear before any properly constituted commission in the state.
“I have been listening while in Abuja to Nyesom Wike accusing me of corruption and I laugh.
POINT THREE: Even Nyesom Wike knows that I don’t like money, he knows that”, he stated.
POINT FOUR: “The pressure Wike is putting on us is to let somebody call us together to a meeting to withdraw our case challenging his election from court. The party has a right to go to court. The law of Nigeria says there is no independent candidate. Even if I, Amaechi, Peterside withdraw, APC will carry on with the case.
POINT FIVE: “The funny thing about the young man is that he knows I know him. I was his governor, I have documents to show that he is a contractor. I am not a thief; so I don’t know what this young man is talking about.”
The former governor said he had had only one local bank account since he became governor.
POINT SIX: According to him, he never handled any contract while he was governor.
The former governor, who accused INEC, SSS, Army and militants of conniving to rob the APC of victory in the last gubernatorial election in the state, said he and his party will continue to fight until they get justice from the court
My Analysis
POINT ONE: The report says former Governor Amaechi claims Governor Wike is ALSO corrupt. Key word is not “corrupt” but “ALSO”. That implies that the former Governor has accepted that he is corrupt. What about Governor Wike? Amaechi said Wike is corrupt. Amaechi is being investigated for corruption, Wike is not. Amaechi never wanted Wike to be Governor. Amaechi and Wike are political opponents. So, there are solid motives for Amaechi’s accusation. That’s my take.
He spoke while addressing loyalists of the APC. From the photos, it was good to see that the true loyalists of the APC fitted into one canopy. Amazing.
POINT TWO: Amaechi vowed never to appear before the Justice George Omereji Commission of Inquiry because according to him it is not properly constituted even when a court has ruled that it is. Former Governor Amaechi is not the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He doesn’t embody the laws of the land. He is not above the law. He is inferior to the law of the land and his statement reeks of contempt for law, laws, the law, lawyers, the judiciary, constituted authority and crass lawlessness. Only a court of law can declare the Commission of Inquiry illegal or not properly constituted. Former Governor Amaechi is not a law unto himself. We are all bound and subject to the laws and justice system of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He missed the point there and it’s grave error. It doesn’t show remorse for his contributions to depriving Rivers people justice when the courts were shut for about a year.
POINT THREE: “Even Nyesom Wike knows that I don’t like money”. Oh my God! Yet again? Of course we all know you like power more than even government and money is only the oil to lubricate its acquisition. We know already. We’ve seen it proven over and again. But that doesn’t mean money didn’t disappear, does it? You have not said the allegations are untrue. You only say you don’t like money. With due respect Sir, that’s beside the issue.
POINT FOUR: “ The pressure Wike is putting on us is to let somebody call us together to a meeting to withdraw our case challenging his election from court.” Oh yeah? Great news and utterly lame. Has it occurred to anyone that by point four none of the issues of corruption have been raised or addressed? Has it occurred to anyone that rather than deal with the issues headon we are seeing a deviation from them? Can anyone use false allegations as political pressure without attracting litigation or unequivocal debunking? People of God let’s see what point five has. I reserve my comment for now.
POINT FIVE: “ The funny thing about the young man is that he knows I know him. I have documents to show that he is a contractor.” Wow! Wike is a CONTRACTOR! Wow! Such inconceivable evil! God forbid! Wike is a contractor!
The funny thing about point five is that is starts with “The funny thing…” and indeed is funny. Kikikikikikikikiki. So being a contractor is now an offense? Tamunobelemaapu obò yòri oh (Lovers of God, come and see oh).
Part 2: “I am not a thief; so I don’t know what this young man is talking about”.
Oh #Jonathan said it oh. Stealing is not corruption and they laughed him to scorn. Now it is clear. While an individual may not be a thief, he can pervert the system to enable others steal from it or on his behalf. In that sense, the person is guilty of corruption (perverting the system) while someone else is guilty of stealing. But they are partners. This is why former Governor Amaechi ought to take the opportunity offered by the Commission of Inquiry to clear his name against the taints and allegations of corruption. The issue here is corruption not necessarily direct theft and since he claims that Wike is ALSO corrupt, can he first clear his own name before we get to the ALSO?
POINT SIX: According to him he never handled any contract while he was governor. The former governor, who accused INEC, SSS, Army and militants of conniving to rob the APC of victory in the last gubernatorial election in the state bla bla bla…
He never handled any contract but his government awarded contracts. As head of his government he has questions to answer on how certain deals were brokered on behalf of Rivers people. He owes the people who afforded him the luxury of his fame and clout to address the issues and provide the answers.
The allegations of connivance is wishy washy. The accounts of his voyages around Rivers State days before the Gubernatorial election are well documented. His statements are in the public domain. He called Mbu abi? He called Brigade Commander. Have you forgotten? He told us so. They said the Hunter had become the hunted. But in spite of all that, Rivers people stood their grounds. Which is why he has claimed openly that Rivers people are fighting him. But the issue is if the people indeed are resisting you as you’ve said yourself on national television live, is it not to rest?
He said he would fight until he gets justice from the courts. The same institution he treated with utter contempt and disdain? Okay na. We are watching to see how the judiciary will reverse the mandate of Rivers people and reward its most notorious abusers in the history of Nigeria. Truth is bitter. But it has to be told nonetheless.
Oraye St. Franklyn, a strategic communicator and good governance advocate, writes from Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He tweets from @RealOraye. He is also on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
