The minister of transportation says Wike’s plan to honour him is “a poisoned chalice”
Wike immediately welcomes the rejection Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation, on Friday, May 26, rejected an award which was to be given to him by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state. According to Amaechi, Wike’s plan to honour him is “a poisoned chalice,” Premium Times reports.
In a statement from his media office, Amaechi made it clear that he would not be part of the programme put together by the governor, who succeeded him in 2015. The award ceremony is part of activities marking the 50th Anniversary of Rivers state.
Amaechi said: “The purported award itself is a contradiction of monumental proportions, a contradiction that can only come from a warped and perverted mind. “From day one as governor, Wike has made it his sole, one-point agenda to attack, abuse, insult and falsely denigrate Amaechi, his immediate predecessor and erstwhile benefactor.
“Since he became governor, Wike spends most of his time making reckless, deeply irresponsible malicious, false allegations against Amaechi, as he attempts, albeit fruitlessly, to malign and destroy the outstandingly superb performance and legacy of Amaechi in Rivers state.” Amaechi wondered why Wike would even contemplate honouring him.
“So, what are the bases or criteria for Wike to give an award/honour to a man he (Wike) has rashly attacked and called all sorts of unprintable names in the past two years?” The minister said he could not accept the award in the face of a deplorable situation which Wike allegedly plunged Rivers into.
But in a swift response, Wike immediately welcomed the rejection, with the Rivers state Commissioner of Information, Austin Tam-George, describing it as “a huge moral relief for the administration, and the people of the state.” Tam-George said Amaechi qualified for the award by default.
He said: “The Rivers state government never set out to give any special award to Rotimi Amaechi for meritorious service. “There is a category in the award structure for former governors of the state. As a former governor, Mr. Amaechi fell automatically into that category.”
Furthermore, Mr. Tam-George said Mr. Amaechi should prepare himself for serious legal challenges which the Wike administration would soon confront him with.
“Amaechi was personally indicted for stealing billions of public funds, by a court-approved panel of inquiry set up by the state government. “The state government is about to begin a prosecutorial process against him in multiple jurisdictions, in Nigeria and abroad.
And no award would have stopped that process,” he said. Amaechi is s number 18 among the 29 people to be honoured by the government for their contributions to the development of the state. Former Nigerian leaders Goodluck Jonathan and Yakubu Gowon are also on the list, alongside late activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, who would be honoured posthumously.
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