A civil society and pro-democracy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has asked the Rivers state governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to apologise to his predecessor and former boss, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, for his (Wike’s) needless political war of vendetta to “a man who entrusted key offices to him (Wike) whilst Amaechi served Rivers State.”

HURIWA recalled that on September 14, 2015, Wike vowed to implement the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the sale of its valued assets by the immediate past administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

Also, the Justice George Omereji Seven-man Commission of Inquiry which concluded its proceeding over the weekend, has warned Amaechi and some members of his administration who shunned the panel to be prepared to bear the consequences of their action.

HURIWA in a statement issued on Wednesday recalled that the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, claimed then that the state government was eagerly awaiting the recommendations of the Justice Omereji Commission, and would ensure its full implementation without fear or favour.

Inko-Tariah had explained that the Commission was not set up to witch-hunt Amaechi, contrary to his claim. Rather, he said the Commission which was legally constituted, was set up by the Governor to determine the probity of certain financial transactions like the payment of $39.2 million for the Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte Special Hospital to a contractor that never executed the project, as well as the sale of the state-owned four gas- turbine power stations under the administration of his predecessor.

Besides, HURIWA cited the claim by the Rivers State’ Governor thus: “The commission was set up to ascertain certain financial transactions under Amaechi. Rivers State funds were involved in these transactions and we assume some of the funds might have been embezzled and that is the reason for the commission.”

HURIWA said that the Commission reached a predetermined conclusions and allegedly indicted the former governor even without hearing his own side of the story.

“HURIWA, however, thinks the politically-motivated witch-hunt, using certain forces in the judiciary against the former Rivers State governor is the source of the current political troubles and ‘karma’ afflicting the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike,” said Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement on Tuesday, August 16, 2022.

Onwubiko also stated that Governor Wike in the last eight years, has become anti-workers and dictatorial.

The statement added: “HURIWA recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike, on Monday, comically alleged some aggrieved losers in the Rivers state People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary for 2023 governorship election which produced former State Account-General, Sim Fubara as candidate, are now leading an Abuja plot for his downfall.

HURIWA, quoting Wike said the Governor, during activities to celebrate former Governor Peter Odili at 74, pointed at some of the party’s leaders who, on his 2021 birthday, indicated interest to fly the ticket, but failed in the end, as spearheading the gang up against him.”

“At the birthday reception held at a new Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt, private residence donated by the Rivers government to Dr. Odili,” according to the statement, “Wike narrated: “On my last birthday, 12 midnight, some of our elders called to see me. They said they came to wish me happy birthday.

“Then, they presented me a letter that I should run for president. All of them including, Dr. Abiye (Sekibo), signed the document. I said okay, you people too should go and give me someone who will be governor after me. They all sat there, looking left and right.

“I asked them, those of you who are interested to be governor should raise your hands. Everybody raised hand. One person didn’t raise his hand, Senator Bari Mpigi. I asked why he was not interested, he replied, ‘Sir, let me hold what God has given me. I don’t want to lose the two’.”

“Wike further narrated that same elders also signed to abide by whatever outcome of the governorship primary, alleging that because they never succeeded in the primary, they turned around now to accuse him of pursuing a third term.

“Some persons don’t know the history. They go and tell all kinds of story. But the truth is this: all of them (elders) signed the document prepared by O.C.J. Okocha that whoever I will bring, they will abide to it.

“But now, they went to Abuja that I must not be vice president. I also read, yesterday, when I was in Paris, one of them saying that I told him that if they do to me what they did to Dr. Odili, that I will collapse the system.

“I am not an ungrateful person and I will never be ungrateful in my life. What’s important is that I have done well as a Governor. I am happy and I am leaving office a happy man.”

HURIWA however counselled Wike to put an end to his cantankerous political warfare against his kinsman, Chibuike Amaechi, and end his administration as a democrat and not a quarrelsome tyrant.

“Besides, HURIWA wonders why Wike is complaining about post- primary election disputes in River State when he (Wike) has not found the heart of a good sportsmanship to concede defeat to the erstwhile Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who trounced Gov. Wike to a distant second position and denied him of the position of a running mate. Ever since suffering these political misfortunes, Wike has been behaving like a bull in a china shop,” Onwubiko remarked.

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