Assistant Editor (South South), JOE EZUMA, captures the mood of the leading political divides in Rivers State on the confirmation of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi for ministerial appointment.
The eventual confirmation of former Rivers governor, Chibuike Amaechi, for ministerial position after a rather tortuous politicking that saw the screening and clearance shifted thrice has opened another round of controversy within political circles, civil society groups and other stakeholders in the state.
This is even as analysts are divided on the implications of the clearance on the integrity profile of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, especially among its foreign supporters as well as its anti-corruption agenda.
Opposition against Amaechi became more pronounced when the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike administration to look into the sale of valued assets of the state accused him of malpractices and found him culpable.
To worsen matters, the state government had, sequel to the findings of the commission, directed its Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chinwe Aguma (SAN), to initiate the prosecution of the former governor over the sale of the state’s four gas turbines and other government facilities without due process.
On account of the development and other allegations against the former governor, his nomination almost ran into rough waters.
While the situation lasted, Amaechi’s supporters were literally put on edge. The former governor was however confirmed minister on Thursday, October 29, by the Senate.
Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while reacting to the confirmation, described it as a victory over the forces of darkness.
“These dark forces as represented by Caretaker Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, went to absurd lengths in their plot to stop Amaechi from becoming a minister, but Almighty God has used President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to scatter their evil plans,” the party remarked in the statement signed by the Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.
The party stressed that the senators had, by the action, proved that they were not only patriots and nationalists, but also cannot allow petty politics to becloud their sense of reasoning in accomplishing the onerous task of building a virile, vibrant, and united Nigeria.
PDP cries foul
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in reaction, chided the Buhari administration for trivialising its anti-corruption mantra and faulted its claims to integrity and sincerity.
A statement by the party noted that the intrigues surrounding Amaechi’s ministerial screening and his eventual confirmation by the APC-dominated Senate was an official endorsement of corruption and gross abuse of democracy.
It condemned Buhari’s choice of Amaechi as one of his ministers “despite the monumental allegations of fraud, looting of state treasury and unprecedented abuse of trust while he held sway as governor of the state for eight wasted years, as contained in the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the Rivers State Government White Paper which indicted him”.
In a statement, the state chairman of PDP, Felix Obuah, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, said “throwing the most revered rules of the Senate and the sanctity of the laws of the land to the winds for the singular reason to compensate an indicted party member does not only amount to fait accompli but also exposes the hypocrisy of the APC-led federal government that anchored its campaign slogan on anti-corruption crusade”.
Obuah, who expressed shock that the APC senators could descend so low as to fling away the report of the Ethics and Privileges Committee just to have their way without minding the feelings of the people they were representing, stressed that the exercise amounts to formal approval of corruption.
He commended the courage of the PDP senators for staging a walk-out, adding that it was a historic statement that they were not and could not be part of the institutionalisation of corruption in Nigeria and the legalisation of criminality on the altar of loyalty.
“For the umpteenth time, Amaechi is only representing the interests of his benefactors and definitely not Rivers people, as the state prefers to suffer persecution for standing on the side of truth and what is right to being eulogised and pampered as a chief servant in a slave house.
“While we look to the end of the APC-led federal government which has started on precarious feet of falsehood and deceit, we can only say that the end can never contradict its means which, in this case, is suspect. Our regret is the APC’s disservice and disappointment to the entire Nigerians whose hope of getting a better alternative government from the Buhari administration and eighth Senate has been dashed.
“It’s an illusion to think that Amaechi and his likes as ministers would perform anything different from what they did while they served in all other capacities,” Obuah declared.
