By Lawrence Olaoye
Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, deserved to be impeached over his inability to protect lives and property in the state.
The minister said this while responding to the recent killing of 21 persons returning from the Cross-Over service in the dawn of the new year day by unknown gunmen.
According to Amaechi, Wike failed in his primary responsibility by doing nothing to prevent frivolous killings and kidnapping of people in the state.
He said “I think the governor needs to get a bit more serious. He should stop encouraging the militant groups in the name of politics and election. You heard about 21 only in Omoku, what about in Akutoru where two persons were killed, what about other LGAs. I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.
“I was governor of Rivers State, I did not play PDP/APC politics. Life is life; it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life. The first responsibility of a governor, which is what the oath of office requires, is that you swear to protect lives and property. When you don’t protect life and property what do you do? It’s impeachment. Unfortunately there is no House of Assembly in Rivers State.
“Too much noise coming from Rivers State, the governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people that’s all he does. Mr. Project painting roads, the first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings and we are losing lives every day.
“Two important men were kidnapped before I left Port Harcourt. The first person is Chief Adoke till today, nearly one month after nobody can tell you where he is. The next person is Chief Omogu was kidnapped luckily the villagers ran after the people and rescued the old man from the bush.
“It never happened when I was governor. We (the security and myself) ensured that we will not sleep at night. We stayed awake for the citizens to sleep, I think the governor needs to do much more than that or quit the office.”
On why he felt Wike was hamstrung handling the security situation in the state, Amaechi said “I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with. He is not like me when during my second term the President, Goodluck Jonathan, took away Police, SSS, the Army brigade commander couldn’t visit me but in his case everyone is disposed to him. He can see the Commissioner of Police, Director SSS, unlike my period but we fought insecurity. But because he needs these people for election purpose that is why they are still there. That is why they are killing we need much more than that.
“Unfortunately, I swore not to be talking about Rivers anymore but you don’t keep quiet in the face of 21 lives. You can’t just keep quiet.”
