Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has again hit the Minister of Transportation and Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi describing him as a reckless blackmailer.
Wike in a statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, was reacting to a statement reportedly credited to Amaechi, where claimed that he (Wike) was forging documents to secure his conviction in a court of law.
The governor, while describing the allegation as unfounded, baseless and a figment of the imagination of the former governor, said it was another attempt by Amaechi to distract attention from the crimes he committed against Rivers people, by diverting their resources
The statement reads, “The Minister of Transportation also went ahead to falsely allege that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike bragged that he has the judiciary at the State and Federal level in his pocket to secure his conviction on charges of corruption.
“This is another false allegation, merely concocted by the former governor to distract attention from the crimes he committed against Rivers people, by diverting their resources. This press statement issued by Rotimi Amaechi is part of the campaign of calumny launched by the Former Governor, following the foundation stone laid by the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) Justice Walter Onoghen for the construction of the Rivers State Judges Quarters.
“The Former Governor sponsored advertorials and electronic adverts through proxies to stop the laudable project without success, hence the resort to falsehood and character assassination.
“We are not surprised by Amaechi’s antics to blackmail the Judiciary. Ever since the Supreme Court Victory that validated the election of Governor Wike, Amaechi has never failed to malign the Judiciary. Governor Wike is a law abiding citizen, who believes in the rule of law. That is why he has followed due process in tackling the issues of high level corruption against the Minister of Transportation.
“The Rivers State Governor in line with the extant laws of Rivers State set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the Sale of Valued Assets of the State by the Amaechi administration.
“The constitution of that panel was challenged by the former Governor at the State High Court and Court of Appeal. Both courts upheld the establishment of that panel. The former governor has since approached the Supreme Court on appeal. Rather than await the verdict of the Apex Court, in his usual manner has resorted to political blackmail and falsehood.
“As usual, this will fail. It is imperative to declare that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry that investigated the Sale of Valued Assets of the State sat in the public. All the documents about the fraud of that administration were circulated in the public domain with journalists writing about the activities of the commission, publishing tendered documents. Nothing was hidden from the people of the state.
“We also saw a reckless post by Amaechi’s associate, Mr Igo Aguma trying to denegrate the Judiciary. This is most unfortunate. Amaechi’s sponsorship of Mr Livingstone Wechie will not change the facts that are known to all Nigerians.”
