Okogbe Disaster: ACN Disagrees With Amaechi …Backs Femi Falana On Litigation

The Rivers State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria has sharply disagreed with the Governor of Rivers State; Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi over the factors responsible for the death of about 200 innocent Rivers people in petrol tanker fire in Okogbe Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of the State.

The Action Congress of Nigeria has also thrown its weight behind moves by a human rights activist, and legal luminary, Femi Falana to drag the federal government to International Criminal Court over the deaths in the petrol tanker fire.

The party disclosed this in a press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, in Port Harcourt.

We view the comments of Governor Amaechi that the innocent people died in the petrol tanker fire as a result of poverty and lack of enlightenment as ridiculous, insensitive and jeering at the dead people, when the world is showing passionate concern about the death of about 200 innocent persons.

As a State that tops the chart in revenue allocation accruable from oil, Governor Amaechi should be held responsible for the poverty that starred in the faces of the people, according to him, that compelled them to want to scoop petroleum from a tanker on fire which resultant effect is the death of about 200 persons.

The governor should also be held responsible for the lack of enlightenment, which according to him also, resulted in their death.

We regret that Amaechi-led government is lacking in alleviation of poverty and civic education of the people of Rivers State.

The huge sum of money Amaechi spends on political jobbers, phony contracts, travels and court cases, could better be channeled in the areas of poverty alleviation and civic education.

The people of Rivers State have no reason to be poor in their land. They produce the golden egg. They are poor because of mismanagement by government.

It is most condemnable the belated visit to the community by Governor Amaechi and his comment that they died because of poverty and lack of enlightenment.

The move by Femi Falana to drag government to the international criminal court of justice is commendable.

The Action Congress of Nigeria welcomes the development and pledge to partner with the human rights activist, and legal luminary as well as other persons and groups to seek justice over the most unfortunate petrol tanker fire that claimed about 200 lives.

What is needed now is prayers and support for the bereaved families and communities, not political speeches and castigation from politicians who have no value for lives and Rivers people. Their relatives and children are living from ill gotten stupendous wealth, taxes payers' money, which does not belong to them, while the larger people of the state live in abject poverty and made a laughing stock, by a government that swore to protect lives and property.

It goes into the record book against Amaechi, that while as governor over 200 persons died in a state he governs from outside.

It is also shameful that Amaechi has not been in the state when such calamities happen, the Trans-Amadi Slaughter electrocution, several killings, natural disasters, armed robberies, kidnappings and the recent petrol tanker fire incident.

It underscores the fact that Amaechi rules from outside Rivers state, at the expense of Rivers people.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi should think before he speaks, to save Rivers people from further embarrassment.