Supervisory Minister of Education and former Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Nyesom Wike has likened the Rivers State Governor to Adolf Hitler.
Wike made the comments whilst speaking with reporters in Port Harcourt. He also stated that Amaechi did not have the support of 25 lawmakers as widely believed.
Wike said: “When has nursing ambition become a criminal offence? Assuming I want to be Rivers governor in 2015, so what? Is it because I want to be governor, that is why you (Amaechi) will leave the party and tell Rivers people lies?
“Is it because I want to be governor that is why Amaechi is quarrelling with President Goodluck Jonathan? Governorship is an ambition. If I want to run for governorship of Rivers state, nothing will stop me. Who told you I would not want to be the president of Nigeria?
“Nigeria will do well if we stand by the truth. Amaechi is a tyrant and he can be likened to Adolf Hitler. Amaechi is the worst tyrant I have ever known. If you do not know, know it now. I worked there (in Government House, Port Harcourt as Chief of Staff).”
“Amaechi is the only one that God wants to have an ambition. No other person can have an ambition. It is a criminal offence for you to have an ambition, but it is constitutional for Amaechi to have an ambition.”
Wike also stated that he never betrayed Amaechi and that the Governor was not responsible for his winning a second term as the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Council.
Reacting to the statements by Wike, Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, Tony Okocha said Wike had a long history of betrayal.
“It is laughable; It is a direct opposite of what he (Wike) meant to say. He knows that the governor is not a tyrant. The governor gave him a free hand and he misused it.
“Rivers people will not allow Wike to be governor of the state, after enjoying good governance from Governor Amaechi,” he said.
“It is not true that Governor Amaechi is a tyrant. Decisions are always taken by the Rivers State Executive Council. Rivers Governor gave Wike a free hand as the Chief of Staff and recommended him to be minister. It is shocking that the governor has suddenly become a tyrant.
“Governor Amaechi knew that Wike was a mischief-maker, but tried to manage him. The people of Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State rejected Wike, when he was seeking re-election as Council Chairman because of his disrespect for elders and constituted authority, but Governor Amaechi intervened and saved his political career.”
“Amaechi influenced his emergence as chairman of Obio/Akpor for second tenure. He has no respect for constituted authority. Wike has a long history of betrayal.
“It runs in his blood. I am advising him to look back and see how many people are falling by the wayside because of his mischief,” Okocha added.