“No Governor in history of Rivers State achieved what Amaechi has achieved in Governance.”
BY IBRAHIM BAKARE
Loyalists to the former Governor of Rivers State and Transportation Minister Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi have defended the allegations made against him by Governor Nyesom Wike on a live Television programme as that based out of frustrations in governance.
Spokesman of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress, APC, loyal to Amaechi, Ogbonna Nwuke, in his reaction said that for the past few weeks Wike has lost some of his okey aides to APC and he is transferring the aggression on Amaechi.
He said allegations of the Wike against Amaechi, his former boss, was not unexpected because despite the outward show that his party, PDP ,under his watch is in tact,the facts on ground state the opposite.
APC image maker, Nwuke, a former Lawmaker representing Etche-Omuma federal Constituency in House of Representatives also ex-Commissioner for Information, asserted further that the allegations of Governor Wike is coming at the backdrop of what is happening around him and within his party. “It is on record that for the past few weeks the Governor has lost his close Associates to the APC.I am sure he is holding the Minister of Transportation accountable to what is happening to to his party “
For instance,about three weeks ago,Dr. John Bazia, a prominent PDP and former Lawmaker representing Tai Local Government at the Rivers House of Assembly, and immediate past Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and also the Commissioner for Special Duties respectively, led his supporters to dump PDP, for (APC) fold the able leadership of Rt.Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
The two-time Lawmaker was received by Dr. Batam Ndegwe, APC Chairman in Tai Local Government area. Dr. Bazia was commended for the bold step that he has took to join the Rotimi Amaechi APC family in Tai, adding that he is looking forward to a good working relationship between Bazia and the APC family in Tai.
On his part, Dr. John Bazia, who said he was glad and proud to be associated with APC under the leadership of Rt.Hon Amaechi, added that he has great respect for the Honourable Minister Amaechi and promised to work with everybody on board to move APC Tai forward.
Dr.John Bazia, former Lawmaker representing Tai Local Government at the Rivers House of Assembly, and immediate past Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs and also the Commissioner for Special Duties.
Hon.Chisom Promise Dike,member of the House of Representatives representing Tai-Oyigbo-Eleme Federal Constituency, also decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Hon. Ephraim Nwuzi, Member of House of Representative representing Etche-Omuma federal Constituency defects to APC. He was two-time Chairman of Etche LGA
*Wike. * Amaechi
Drama preceded the dumping of PDP by Hon. Chisom Promise Dike. He is a member of the House of Representatives representing Tai-Oyigbo-Eleme Federal Constituency. has decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.He first of all rejected the exotic Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) Governor Wike recently gave to all members of the National Assembly from the state.
Giving reasons,the Lawmaker said he could not accept the Governor’s gift because of the deplorable condition of all the roads in his primary constituency, Oyigbo.
Dike lamented that the roads in Oyigbo were death traps and impassible, adding that the people of the area were suffering untold hardships because of the inability to access Port Harcourt, the state capital.
According to Dike,“The state of roads in my constituency made me to reject the car gift from the Governor.I represent Eleme-Oyigbo-Tai. We have made a lot of representations to the government but none had been taken.
“My former party(PDP) is in power in Rivers State alongside other indigenes from our area but we could not effect any change,” Dike
The national Lawmaker complained that even when the Chairman of PDP the ruling party in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor and other party leaders hail from his local government, everything about development stops on Governor Wike’s table and the governor has his priorities.
Also,on August 6, the House of Representative member representing Etche-Omuma federal constituency at the national Assembly, Hon Ephraim Nwuzi,and a two-time former of Chairman of Etche Local Government are, has also defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Nwuzi contested under the platform of The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections and won a seat at the Federal House of Representative formally joined the Etche APC caucus meeting at the residence of the leader of APC in Etche, and was received by the former Chairman of the party Elder George Nwanjoku.
In his speech Hon Ephraim Nwuzi, promised to formally join the party (APC) with his supporters on a letter date. And promise to remain loyal to Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of Transportation as the Leader of APC.
Nwuke also dismissed the claims by Wike that Amaechi was indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry, said all transactions done under former Amaechi followed due process.
“That Panel found nothing on Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.Its on record. And I am aware the those records duly certified by Justice George Omereji is there for everyone one who is willing to see. So the remarks made by the Governor on the Power sector was not back by facts and on the contrary under Amaechi’s administration there was a Procurement System put in place”.
An Amaechi loyalists,Marshal Obuzor and Obiaruko Ndukwe in their Facebook posts advised that rather continuing to argue with Governor Wike over performance between him and his former boss, Amaechi, for whom he that is better to bring the facts to the fore for the public see pass their judgement.
Don Kassidy, another diehard supporter of Amaechi reminded Governor Wike that was a governor par excellence. He also reeled out some of Amaechi’s projects in his facebook post.
According to him, devePort Harcourt and Obio-Akpor local government area alone are where Wike’s achievements are focused, Amaechi’s achievements surpassed that of Wike many times over.
“Amaechi constructed Agip, Eleme, Elelenwo-woji flyovers. Amaechi constructed Obiri-Ikwerre interchange flyover, which is like putting the whole of Garrison, Rumuokoro and Rumuoji flyovers together. His administration dualized Azikiwe- ikwerre road. He dualized Ada George road. Amaechi dualized Rumuokwuta – NTA road. Amaechi dualized Olu- Obasanjo road. Amaechi dualized market junction to Nwaja to round about.
“Other projects Amaechi constructed include:D-line and Oroworukwu internal roads. Amaechi dualized Peter Odili road to Slaughter to Okujiagu to Rumuwoji. Amaechi dualized Slaughter to YKC. There are many more in terms of roads and flyovers that Wike government has been boasting of.
We do not need to talk about his achievements in area of Agriculture, Health, Housing, Employment, Human Capital Development, Education and so on.
According to them under Wike’s administration, Nigeria Bureau of Statistics,NBC,rates Rivers as having the highest unemployment rate in the 36 states of the Federation. Lets concentrate on where Wike claimed to be his area of strength. Please somebody should tell me Wike’s achievement in this 2 Local Government Area where he claimed to be concentrating on”.
Wike had in a live Television interview alleged that Amaechi wasted the resources of state and should have been in jail but not appointed a Minister of Federal republic among other allegations.