by Azubuike Azikiwe
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that money is the root of his disagreement with the Patience Jonathan.
While speaking at the graduation ceremony of students of University of Ibadan and Pioneer graduands of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Amaechi claimed that he fell out with First lady, Patience Jonathan, over his refusal to pay her royalties from the state’s coffers.
Amaechi also alleged that the first lady was responsible for the resurgence of militants, whom he had driven out of the state before. He claimed that his reluctance to give money to Abuja is responsible for their return to the state.
“Remember, when I became governor, I fought militancy. Right there where you built a new house, there used to be a hole where they pass into the river and escape. The security report reached me and I came here and chased the militants away. I asked them to fence the school premises and block that hole. I have to protect you because, it is my responsibility. Some of the militants went to Lagos, Ivory Coast, Ghana.
“Today, they are back because the wife of the President brought them back to protest against me. I refused to give them money in Abuja because if I do that, I won’t be able to carry out any development project or finish the road from Rumuolumeni to Rumuepirikom. The quarrel between me and the wife of the President is because she said I should bring your money, Rivers people money and share with her, ” Amaechi alleged.
The Rivers state Governor wasn’t done in his criticism of his political foes, as he described his major opponent, Nyesom Wike as an” incompetent Minister, who bundled the construction project of the internal roads in Rumuolumeni”.
“I told the people of Rumuolumeni that we have awarded N1.5 billion for their internal roads and have also paid the indigenous contractor who is from the area the sum of N700 million. We said, Rivers money for Rivers people, because they don’t have capital. This man took the contract and gave it to a man who now wants to be governor. This man that is being backed by Mrs Jonathan gave N250 million to the indigenous contractor and disappeared with N450 million without constructing the road.
“And this is the man who wants to be governor, with billboards screaming the concept of New Vision. What kind of vision is that for a thief? They have been thieves for too long, so it cannot be new vision. The only thing that is new is that he has industrialised stealing. The former Minister of State for Education in a radio interview said, he ‘shedded tears’. Everyone knows there’s no word like that.”
Speaking on his party’s behalf, Amaechi urged the people of Rivers and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to work hard to stop the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) from manipulating and rigging the 2015 general elections in the state.
Amechi should leave the first family alone and focus on his constitutional responsibility. He should tell the good people of River State what he did with their Federal Allocation and the internally generated revenue for the past three years.
Emmm hahahah, saint Rotimy Amaechi. I dey laugh, Ýou gave somebody money to excute contract and he run away with the money and as a governor you could not do anything.The wife of the president ask u to give her state money u refused and she start pescuting u. You kept all this secret since all these years the reason why u are saying it now is what I don’t know.Amaechi there is a provab that says “no matter how tall okoro tree will grow, it can never be taller than the person who plant it” I wish u good luck.
But sir, why are you just telling us all this right now? We should have been intimated of this earlier. Even the EFCC has a role to play now that we know what really led to fight.
These are political words. Yes he(Amechi) has successfully told Nigerians what conspired between him & the First Lady but refused to tell the same Nigerians WHY he rubbished Peter Odili poltically. Amechi has beaten the fingers that fed him and should prepare to dance the music alone when the time comes. Once used as a Political Thug, will always remain a Political Thug.
Thank you my brother,Politics without wisdom is like a man dancing naked in the market square his kings men will have no option than to isolate him,what makes biter leave to biter is is in his root.Amaechi lack wisdom.
Amechi ur God s wit u’ witout be told we no oooo, gej ad d wife ar greedy penson, wit our suport 2 u wike can never reach der