Governor Wike says Amaechi should be in jail.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said that his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, the incumbent Minister of Transportation, should not be walking freely, if Nigeria is truly practicing democracy, Page 36 learnt.
Governor Wike said that the shutdown of the Rivers State Judiciary under Rotimi Amaechi’s administration as Governor of the State, was a violation of the rights of the people of the State.
The Governor stated this on Monday, during a live interview on AIT’s ‘Focus Nigeria’, in reaction to some comments by Amaechi, over the weekend.
He stated that in civilized climes, Amaechi should not be walking freely, or be appointed as a government Official, because of the closure of the courts under his watch as Governor.
Governor Wike’s words: “With due respect to President Muhammadu Buhari, I think he should not have had such a man as a Minister. He (Amaechi) should be in jail for violation of human rights.
“How can somebody oversee the locking up of the Judiciary? There was nowhere for people to ventilate their anger. Contracts were breached, and people cannot go to court. People relied on Police to settle their differences.
“A woman was detained the day she was to be given bail. A pregnant woman was to be given bail right on the day the courts were shut down. The woman gave birth in prison. Imagine that kind of a harrowing experience.
“And that is the man they say is one of the best Governors. No, he is not the best Governor.”
On Amaechi’s investments in Education, especially the building of Model Schools, Governor Wike said that the funds were wasted, adding that, much more could have been achieved “with the billions of naira” spent on building new Schools.
“What we are trying to do is that, with the little resources we are getting, we are trying to renovate old Schools through SUBEB.
“You know my former Governor; I worked with him, so I know him too well. When he is flying with people in the helicopter, he will be pointing his fingers and telling them see that School there, I built it. He is that kind of man. If he had not started something, he would kill it.
“But when I see a project that will impact the lives of the people, I complete it. The Degema General Hospital which he started has been completed, but when I see a political project, I have no business. So many roads he (Amaechi) did not do, and the ones he did not complete, I completed them.”
Rotimi Amaechi had lamented the recurring spate of insecurity and political intimidation in Rivers State, under Governor Wike.
While speaking during the funeral service of the late Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, at Saint Augustine’s Anglican Church, Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, he said that fear has pervaded the State he bequeathed in 2015, but residents have failed to openly challenge the current administration.
“Everyone is scared. We are going back to when Ateke held sway. We are going back to the period where we run away from our people. We are back to a period when nobody can speak. But from next year, I will begin to speak, if nobody wants to speak”, Amaechi had said.
