Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi says he would be bringing himself low by engaging Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, whom he described as his former “staff”.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers, stated this in an interview on Arise TV, where he was asked to react to a comment by his successor.
Wike on Wednesday accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of shielding Amaechi from prosecution over misappropriation of proceeds from the sales of some the state’s assets.
The governor said it was appalling that the Federal Government had continued to shield the minister from prosecution for his inability to account for $308 million from the sales of the state-owned power plant and other critical assets when he was the Governor of Rivers State.
Wike noted that it was because the Federal Government was protecting the Minister that Amaechi has allegedly consistently made efforts to undermine his administer by influencing who was to be posted as Commissioner of Police and General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army to Rivers State.
“People gave you opportunity. You sold our properties, everything. And people are talking in this state because of the government that says they are fighting corruption and protecting people. You (Amaechi) sold our property for $308 Million and kept for us $208,000. That is the kind of people parading themselves in government, for a government that says they are fighting corruption, shame,” Wike
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Asked to react to the allegation, Amaechi said, “He (Wike) was my staff. I can’t bring myself low.”
He said he would rather continue to build more rails for the country than engage Wike.
“I don’t think I want to address the issue of the governor. I have made my point, I have moved on.
“He was my staff. I can’t bring myself low. I was a governor, I was also a speaker. I’m a minister.
“I was two-term chairman of governors’ forum. The same when I was a speaker. Why should I be discussing about him (Wike)?” Amaechi queried.