Former Chairmen of Local Government Councils and Commissioners in Rivers State during the administration of Chibuike Amaechi have reacted to a recent media interview granted by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, refuting claims by the Governor that Dame Judith Amaechi extorted N2 million and N3 million monthly from Commissioners and Local Government Chairmen respectively while her husband was the state Governor.

According to a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday, signed by Ojukaye Flag Amachree, former Chairman Asari-Toru LGA (for all former Local Council Chairmen during the Amaechi administration) and Fred Mbombo-Igwe, former Commissioner of Sports (for all former Commissioners during the Amaechi administration), the Commissioners and Council Chairmen realised the magnitude and gravity of the allegation and deem it necessary to refute the allegation.

“Nyesom Wike since his assumption to office appears to have a major agendum, which is to tarnish the sterling reputation of former Governor Amaechi, his erstwhile benefactor. He is bereft of ideas and unprepared for the task of governing a heterogeneous state like Rivers.

“Wike, while serving as the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi interfaced regularly with Council Chairmen. With this rare privilege and his avarice plus his corrupt tendencies, he elected to commit a lot of fraudulent and sharp practices including massive looting and various degree of financial extortion on the council chairmen and commissioners who felt hapless due to his perceived closeness to the governor as the chief of staff.

The group said: “On several occasions, Wike hiding under the subterfuge of his office as intermediary between the then governor and other elected or appointed public officials made financial demands and extorted money from council chairmen including arm twisting them to award contracts to him.

“It is on record that several LGA projects then, including the new secretariat of Port Harcourt City Council and Etche Council, were done by Wike. Council chairmen and State officials were forced to contribute several millions of naira to Wike under the pretext of fighting his legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when he was arrested and tried for corruption. For the most flimsy excuses Wike placed hefty levies on council chairmen. Failure to pay are usually met with stiff sanctions

“Governor Wike is indeed morally bankrupt and cannot point accusing fingers at the wife of former governor Amaechi. In fact the then chief of staff to Amaechi gave stern directives to council chairmen never to support the activities of the wife of the governor.

“We want to state that no Council Chairman either individually or as a group of chairmen or State Commissioners were told, coerced, intimidated or persuaded to pay any money to the wife of the former Governor. And no money was given to her

“Gov. Wike lacks moral rectitude. He is bereft of ideas and has no respect for his wife, hence this shameful attempt to drag the name and reputation of the wife of his former boss into disrepute.

“Governor Wike is too economical with the truth and is in fact a pathological liar who should be ignored. His allegation is baseless, untrue and a figment of his warped imagination.

“Former Council Chairmen and Commissioners who served under the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by this statement therefore warn Governor Wike against this disgraceful and disgusting mischief against the wife of Amaechi and urge him to tender an unreserved apology to the wife of the former governor immediately or be ready to face the consequences of his stupidity.”

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