Rotimi Amaechi, immediate past governor of Rivers state, has again raised alarm over alleged plot of Nyesom Wike, his successor, to tarnish his reputation.
Amaechi urged the people of Rivers, who he said are aware of his anti-corruption stance to defend him, saying Wike is desperate to make sure that he does not get any appointment in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He was speaking in Abuja late Sunday during a reception that his friends organised in his honour.
“Governor Nyesome Wike has again sponsored one advert in a bid to rubbish me. Only God knows that if there is one thing I don’t like, I don’t like money,” he said.
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“Anybody close to me knows that I don’t like money. The governor and PDP are afraid of me getting an appointment to the national executive council.
“The current president abhors corruption and the only way they can stop me from getting the appointment is to paint me with corruption. And the people that know me in Rivers State know that I don’t like money. In Rivers, people know I don’t like money.”
Aisha Buhari, wife of the president, commended Amaechi, saying his courage contributed to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the general election.
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She said: “Amaechi stood firmly by the party, showed commitment, courage and patriotism in ensuring that the country attained the positive change it was yearning for.
“The director-general of the APC campaign organisation is an epitome of doggedness, toughness and steadfastness.”
On his part, Yemi Osinbajo, the vice-president, described Amaechi as “a man of tremendous courage, who stood the wrongs in the PDP, even when he was a member of the Party”.
He said that Amaechi’s role in the last election, stood out, and that accounted for why he was being celebrated.
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“One thing I personally admire about him is his forthrightness; his ability to say it like it is, and we have never been in doubt about where he stands on any issue at all,” he said.
“He has the capacity for the big ideas. Any state governor that will build a railway is a man of big ideas.”
Osinbajo said that Amaechi’s education policy as governor in Rivers had given new hope to children, adding that he would not only be remembered by these children but also by generations to come.
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13 comments
which of the Rivers people? is it the Rivers where we are now or the Rivers people in Daura?
Indeed, Amaechi remodeled and improved primary school buildings at not less than N150mln per one, according to sources. If you ignore the cost for a moment, you have to say the idea was good, with the model primary school buildings conspicuous in their presence. But despite being imposing pieces of architecture, many of the model school buildings were not put to use. Many did not have teaching staff.
At the secondary school level, insiders claim there was serious neglect. Perhaps only the virtually self-sustained school at Rumueme and a few others could maintain boarding facilities. Insiders also claim there was a sharp decline in students’ performance in external examinations. The government’s scholarship programme which, to Amaechi’s credit, gave every qualifying resident a chance had all but collapsed by the time Amaechi left office. There were huge debts owed to the students’ institutions, resulting in their being ‘kicked out’ in many cases. Civil servants were not paid. Ironically, judiciary workers were said to have been selectively paid. Those who claim to know assert that they reached a deal with the governor to go on indefinite strike to forestall the courts sitting in Rivers State, in return for which they would preferentially receive their salaries.
The Rivers monorail project which the VP cited is as huge a waste as it goes. If that is my VP’s notion of a big idea, I am utterly worried. The first stage of the project is an abject disbelief in physical planning. It covers about two kilometers. Worse than that, it is between a sparsely populated G.R.A. side and the busy Aggrey Road. Were it to be commissioned, it would be of virtually no use. But it is not in use and may never be. Put to mind the fact that the re-launched Federal Government railway operations have started in Port Harcourt.
With due apologies to Jonathan Swift, it is possible that Governor Amaechi has money in his head, but not in his heart. After all, those who claim to know say he started off as a Marxist in Uniport. But even as evidenced in Governor Amaechi’s tenure, starting off something and sustaining it are two different things. By the time Governor Amaechi left office, Port Harcourt city was a capital in collapse, with refuse taking over the town according to many informed sources.
While it is difficult to say whether Amaechi likes money or not, it is obvious that he committed a lot of resources to the Buhari Enterprise. I suspect that even the governor cannot claim that he committed his personal resources. The Rivers State government officials or their affiliates have spoken in specific terms on the allegations against Amaechi. He might be better off responding in specifics to enable the public judge. But let no one be deceived, there is nothing under the sun that is hidden.
Trying to stop Amaechi from being in PMB’s executive is not a recommended option; it will be too much energy towards nothing. In any case, with his contributions to the PMB Enterprise, it is fair for Amaechi to expect patronage in return, and it might be uncharitable for PMB not to so dispense it.
Excellent @ Dan Nigeria. You sound like someone i know by the way. For obvious reasons I feel so much anger at the mention of the monorail. It’s just sad that there’s no way forward with that elephant project. It breaks my heart. Maybe they could convert it to hanging garden or demolish it and save us the anger (in the future). Whatever the decision its just a lot of money wasted though.
amechi wasted more money than he invested into the river state people. for hin to be repeating ‘i dont like money’ signifies that he is in love with money
People like EX Gov.R.Amaechi and El Rufai with N90billion asset declared would cast spanner of doubt on Buhari`s anti corruption crusade
I think the best place good for saint Amaechi is Heaven where they don’t spend money.
Chibuike Amaechi only work out govt is being PA to former Gov. Odili yet his family lives in a sprawling mansion built of 2 arces in Atlanta, he sold Rivers assets worth about 1 Billion dollars few weeks before he left office and paid the money into private accounts.
Amaechi paid himself over 40 million dollars for the Justice Karibe-Whyte hospital yet there is no block laid on block at the site.
Amaechi contributed over 30 billion dollars to make Buhari president while workers in the state and pensioners where being owed salaries and pensions for months.
Even Buhari does not make him Minister, am very sure mama pancake will make him one in her kitchen cabinet since she has already started awarding him marks in Abuja.
God pass dem.
Money, fame, Power, without the first there, there might not be the other two. the good book says money answereth all things but also says d Love of money is……… if the former gov claimed he doesn’t like money, all well n good. Just remember that no one shall go unpunished coz Life is full of nemesis. Whatever u sow u MUST definitely REAP in multiple RETURNS. Always remember that there is no man nor woman who’s not indispensable except the Almighty
Ate we saying BUHARI and present (APC) benefitted from misappropriation of the Rivers State Fund; if that is truly, can the present administration really fight corruption as we would desire…?
If he does not like money, then he loves money and the Bible says the “love” not the ‘Like’ of money is the root of all evil. Money made him sell south south just for him to struggle to get an executive placement. We go see.
Ameachi is a blatant liar. Let the praise singer Osinbajo come and see the state of the schools that Ameachi purported to have built.Grasses have overtaken them.Let Osibanajo ask Ameachi the whereabout of the Rivers State money that made Rivers people not to be paid salaries and the Sanitation/Refuse collectors were not paid and the Refuse took over Rivers state if not Gov.Wike that save the situation. What about the white elephant monorail project that has purported been executed for eight years but is just two kilometers and huge amount of money have been committed and are counted in billions. Ameachi is just a crafty thief. His Ghana investment was financed by the sale of his fathers plots of land. Let Ameachi deceive the Daura herdsmen and those living in Rivers State. His exploits will soon be exposed.
Rt. Gov. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi former governor of rivers state is a man i love so much due to his attitude toward integrity. He keeps to his words and treats all equally. I personally came in contact with him when he visited my town Agba Ndele. Then he was the speaker of all speakers. He made a promise to build my community road if he becomes the gov after Peter odili. This promise was made a reality immediately he became the gov. Good people are always criticised; envied and jealoused. But that is the true test of life if you ask me. For us Rivers Reactive Group former gov Amaechi still remains the very best gov We had ever produced in rivers state. He has done so well and has shown us the path of good leadership even when our brother jonathan decided to frustrate rivers workers thinking he was frustrating Amaechi. Ignorance is bad. People failed to see the truth and call it one. The call for a return back our oil well sent to soku led to all these misconceptions. I think if Amaechi loves money like the ignorant few who failed to renew thire minds claimed, no one would have heard of the soku oil. Lets not forget that he fought to get back 63 oil wells from Akwa Ibom state, a fight no ex govs could fight. How well can we educate this few to get them out of ignorance and help them see reasons to be good leaders of thire time. May God help us
Amaechi’s traducers have constituted themselves into juries orchestrating a verdict without court indictment.They should redirect their efforts to using evidence to secure a prima facie case against him.
atm