Wike and Amaechi: bickering old friends

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Nigeria’s Minister of Transport has reacted to the threat handed down to supporters of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike that he should be physically assaulted if they see him moving from one polling booth to the other on election day.

Amaechi will vote in his village of Ubima on 19 March.

In his reaction,Amaechi said he had planned to monitor the election in his hotel room after voting.

“But I heard Wike has threatened my life if his thugs see me on election day. On way to my hotel room I will move to his ward.Because of this threat, I will move to his ward so that his thugs will kill me as he directed. Wike is just threatening everybody. He threatens INEC,Ad hoc staff,University lecturers and now he is threatening me.I will move to his ward, let him kill me.”Amaechi said

Wike had directed the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ikwerre local Government to physically assault the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi if sees him move outside outside of his polling unit

Governor Wike has also accused Amaechi and INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari of planning to swap authentic results from polling units with fake results on March 19, 2016.

Also, Governor Wike declared that any attempt by the Former Governor to move around polling booths on election day will be vehemently resisted by the people who will publicly disgrace Amaechi for violating the electoral guidelines.

Speaking during the grand finale of the Rivers East Senatorial District Campaign Rally of PDP at Elele in Ikwerre LGA, Governor Wike said: “All those who plan to swap result sheets, may their souls rest in peace. Nobody will rig in Rivers State.

“Anybody who thinks Amaechi will give them result sheets to swap, should be ready to swap their dead bodies. I have told the REC, you were here before, you can’t play games with me “.

The governor said it is his responsibility to take steps to stop politicians plotting to rig elections in the state with the connivance of INEC National Commissioner, Mrs Amina Zakari.

He claimed that the University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor was compelled by Amaechi and APC leadership to draw up a list of INEC Adhoc staff dominated by former APC caretaker committee chairmen and confirmed APC members to organise the rerun elections.

He announced the names of the APC leaders on the list of Adhoc staff.

He noted that he had written a formal letter with proofs and details to INEC National Chairman, complaining about the issue.

The governor said that President Buhari should not allow Amaechi to cause crisis in the state because of his personal interest.

In his remarks, National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff stated that Rivers State is a PDP state where the people are satisfied with the performance of the Governor.

Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus described Amaechi as a confirmed thief who stole Rivers monies which he used to finance APC National campaigns.

Rivers State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah alleged that Former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is the Chief sponsor of cultism in the state.