Plot To Impeach Gov Amaechi Thickens

Amaechi.

Amaechi:

The plot to impeach Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi is gathering momentum as there were reports that some of his loyalists in the State House of Assembly have dumped him.

It was reported in some sections of the media Thursday that eight of the governor’s loyalists in the House of Assembly have joined the camp of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike who has engaged the governor in a proxy political battle on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.

And this move is said to be part of the grand plot to impeach Governor Amaechi who is said to be eyeing a higher political office in 2015.

•Amaechi and Lamido's 2015 presidential posters in Abuja. PHOTO: Femi Ipaye
•Amaechi and Lamido’s 2015 presidential posters in Abuja. PHOTO: Femi Ipaye

Amaechi is said to be the running mate to the current Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, whose 2015 presidential posters have flooded parts of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital

It has been alleged that lawmakers who defected to Wike’s camp to impeach Amaechi were promised monetary benefits and choice political offices.

It has not been ascertained who the lawmakers are and the amount being dangled at them. Before now, Wike had five lawmakers while Governor Amaechi had 27 rooting for him out of the 32 lawmakers in the Rivers Assembly.

However, a source in the House of Assembly who is a principal officer said the speculations in the media are part of the gimmick by the opposition to weaken their resolve to stick together and fight the common cause of preserving democracy.

“We are yoked together and are intact,” he said

When contacted for comment, Mr Jim Odede Okpiki, the Spokesman for Otelemeba Dan-Amaechree, the Speaker of the House, assured that there have been all kinds of speculations going around in the media.

Related News

“But when the reports came out all the 27 lawmakers called in to pledge their unflinching loyalty to the Speaker and the Governor,” he said.

Amaechi has accused Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, the State Police Commissioner for teaming up with his political opponents to fight him instead of concentrating on his statutory duty of fighting crime in the state.

Governor Amaechi wondered why the immediate past police commissioner who had sleepless nights fighting crime was removed.

“Since the current commissioner of police arrived, the crime rate in the state has gone up. As I am talking to you now, we have six kidnap cases in the state. I wonder why they removed a commissioner of police that personally monitored crime fighting day and night.

“Yesterday, a friend of mine who lives in GRA here was attending a birthday party of a friend and while he was there, armed robbers were robbing his House, GRA of all places. We are gradually moving to the era of 2005 and 2006 when our women were raped and people were robbed and killed.”

The police commissioner has however said that he is fighting crime and in the last three months he has recovered over 800 arms and ammunition.

“People should check the commands where I have served and check my records,” Mbu said.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Load more