The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has asked the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, to leave the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, alone.
Afenifere had three days ago asked Amaechi and the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, to resign as a result of the allegations that they attempted to bribe judges.
The group had maintained that this was necessary for to allow for proper and effective investigation into the matter.
But the APC in Rivers State described the call for Amaechi’s resignation by the Yoruba socio-cultural group as rascally, shameful and obnoxious.
The Deputy Chairman of the APC, Peter Odike, said it was wrong for Afenifere to speak about a matter it knew nothing about.
In a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday Odike said that Amaechi, who had served meritoriously in different capacities, had impeccable character.
He said, “This call (by Afenifere) is most rascally as it is obnoxious and indeed lacks any merit whatsoever. It is indeed very shameful that an organisation of the status of
Afenifere would jump into such a questionable conclusion over a matter it does not have an iota of fact to prove.
“Afenifere should be reminded that the Honourable Minister of Transportation had served his state and Nigeria in several capacities, including serving as the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years during which he also serves as the chairman Conference of Speakers.
“In all his years of selfless, meritorious service to state and country, ex-governor Amaechi was also an embodiment of impeccable character, discipline, moral and pious disposition.”
“It said the qualities persuaded President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to appoint him as the Director-General of presidential campaign organisation, “a position in which he functioned effectively and delivered efficiently”.
Odike urged Afenifere to resist the temptation of being used as tools to attack perceived political enemies, thereby degrading its lofty social and political status in the country.
