Lawmaker Alleges Threat To Amaechi's Life
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service, Hon. Andrew Uchendu (APC, Rivers), Tuesday, alleged threat to the life of Rivers State governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi .
Uchendu who made the allegation in a statement in Abuja titled 'Before Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Dies,' said something must be done urgently to stop “agents of the Federal Government” from constantly threatening the governor's life.
According to the lawmaker, who is also Chairman of the South South caucus of the House, events of the recent past where Governor Amaechi was subjected to various life-threatening experiences were enough proof that the governor's life is under danger.
Uchendu, who represents Ikwerre/Emoha Federal Constituency of Rivers State said: “The 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) Chapter iv subsections (40) and (41) guaranteed every Nigerian the freedom of association and movement.
'But events of the recent weeks, around Amaechi which have come in rather very quick succession have cast a pale of fog on my vision that I am wondering what might become of the life of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi if the attention of Nigerians and the government of Nigeria are not drawn to these unsavoury events.”
According to Uchendu, in May 2013, Amaechi's aircraft was impounded in Akure “for some strange reasons,” adding that same treatment was meted out on the governor on June 9, 2014 in Kano when Amaechi went to condole the government over late Emir Ado Bayero's demise.
He wondered that ”as if these two incidents were not enough threat, Rotimi Amaechi, on the 19th of June, 2014, flew into Akure on his way to Ado-Ekiti, to attend the final rally of APC. The aircraft landed and on his way to Ado-Ekiti, he was prevented by Nigerian soldiers from driving into Ado-Ekiti.
“To worsen matters, his aircraft was impounded and he was made to drive to Lagos from that point. Soldiers, maintained by the taxpayers' money, and at gunpoint forced the governor to leave Ondo State. What could be worse than this in a democratic setting and to an elected governor of a state? This is truly and aberration in governance.”
Uchendu maintained that “I do not intend to bore you with too many acts of harassment and humiliation meted out to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, by the agents of Federal Government. He has been the only Governor that had his State's House of Assembly invaded and desecrated by hired thugs and militants; he is the only Governor that has had canisters thrown by the Nigerian Police into his seat of power, the Government House, and he has been the only one who the Nigerian Police prevented from driving on the road he constructed to go to the Government House.
“I want to believe that there are more to all these that meet the eyes. I do recall, that Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, the umbrella organisation of the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, in Rivers State, has severally counseled all Ikwerre sons and daughters to feel free to join any political party of their choice.
“It is therefore my plea to all men of goodwill to prevail on the Federal Government and its agents to allow Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to live. He is a full-blooded Nigerian citizen and elected by the people of Rivers State of Nigeria,” he said.