by Isi Esene

The Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi has replied statements attributed to the senior special assistant to the president on Public Affairs, Dr. Okupe, describing him as a tyrant.

Amaechi, who released a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, David Iyofor, said statements like those made by Okupe will not help President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.

According to him, the earlier the president purged the Presidency of characters like Okupe, the better for us all.

He said, “Small minds like Okupe in a democracy, still see holding a different opinion from the Presidency on any issue as anti-Jonathan and fighting the President.”

The statement reads: “Again on August 18, Presidential Assistant on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe on a radio programme, continued his irresponsible and contemptuous mission of denigrating and disparaging the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum(NGF), Rotimi Amaechi.

“As most Nigerians, we believe that Okupe is an inanity in the political equation that no serious-minded person should really take him seriously. “Over time, his comments and statements are akin to some sort of notice-me dance in front of his boss and his band of cheerleaders,” Amaechi’s spokesman said.

The statement added: “President Jonathan certainly does not need any enemies. Indeed, Okupe is more than a handful. Pray, what kind of advice will an aide like Okupe give to Mr President?

“The earlier Mr President purged the Presidency of characters like Okupe, the better for us all.

“Okupe sank to a new low when he falsely and indecorously claimed that Governor Amaechi used the police to harass, intimidate and punish people unjustly and could not provide one instance or a single shred of evidence to back up his claims.

“He bragged about some phantom text messages from “ordinary people”, whose families have suffered grave injustice in the hands of Amaechi and yet again, did not tell us the content and senders of the text messages. What does this Okupe take Nigerians for? The so-called text messages are phantom and exist only in the devious mind of Doyin Okupe.”

“Let us remind Okupe and his co-travellers that it took a lot of efforts, resources and the strong political will and determination of Governor Amaechi to restore peace, security and order to Rivers State from the dark days of pre- October 2007.

“To destroy all that in the name of playing politics portends grave danger for our polity and will do no one, more especially, the Presidency no good. No responsible government plays politics with the lives of its people

“It is certainly rude, uncharitable, ill-mannered and hypocritical for Okupe to falsely and superciliously allege that Amaechi is a ‘willing tool’ to any person or group against President Jonathan.

“Where was Doyin Okupe when Governor Amaechi led Rivers electorates to overwhelming give President Jonathan over two million votes, the highest by any State in the last presidential election?