Amaechi will be a liability to Buhari – PDP

Subsequently, the allegations bordering on corruption and misappropriation of state’s fund have followed up by a petition against the former governor by an Integrity group. Since the Senate prefers not to engage in issues that are awaiting judicial interpretation, the red chamber was being cautious, even if many insist that the ex-governor remains innocent until proven guilty.

According to Bro Obuah in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, Amaechi’s letter to the Senate President is an attempt to ignore the White Paper report, undermine the crusade against corruption and expose President Buhari’s fight against corruption as partisan and targeted at only members of the opposition and perceived enemies.

A few days back, three senators from Rivers state, George Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu, had opposed the clearance of Amaechi with a petition laid before the Senate by Sekibo. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not speak with any journalist as stated in the story under reference.

Therefore, Amaechi’s letter to the Senate President should be disregarded. What now obtains in Rivers state as a result, is a bitter rivalry that has people sorely divided across political and cultural lines.

The party berated the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for opposing Amaechi’s ministerial nomination and working hard to scuttle its actualisation. Former Governor Amaechi is at peace with himself and God. In saner climes, all that were unearthed in the circus show are materials that are likely buried in the various hand-over notes by commissioners and heads of Rivers state government departments and agencies.

Amaechi has no defense to allegations of fraud against him as contained in the Government White Paper. They said the sale of the Rivers state power assets was a State Executive Council (SEC) decision of August 16, 2012, while the state’s Olympia Hotel was not sold as being peddled by the group, but leased/concessioned in a manner that it would revert to the state government at the end of the lease/concession period. There are divergent legal opinions as to whether the governor had the legal right to set up a “judicial” commission.

Aishat is expected to appear before the committee tomorrow.

They urged President Buhari to withdraw the nomination of Aisha Abubakar as a ministerial nominee meant for Sokoto State “in the spirit of justice, fair play and equity in accordance with the Constitution”, and with due appreciation of Buhari’s “passion for justice and fairness” which they said he exhibited when his attention was drawn to constitutional infraction in respect of his nomination of Ahmed Musa Ibeto from Niger State who comes from the same senatorial district as the Niger State governor.

Finebone however, declared that the PDP will not succeed in its campaign against the former governor.

“Judging Amaechi by the much he achieved as governor of Rivers State – from education to proper management of the State’s resources, road construction, agriculture, security, tourism, transport, commerce, human development, etc – one can safely conclude that when he becomes a minister, Amaechi will do everything humanly possible to protect the interests of Rivers State and improve the lot her people”, the party said.

The letter to the Senate President further makes mockery of Amaechi and amounts to desperation and glorification of corruption.