YOUR STATEMENT IS DETRIMENTARY, AMAECHI LAMBASTED WIKE, SAYS YOU CAN’T SET NIGERIA ON FIRE
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lambasted the Rivers State Governor, Nyson Wike over his recent reckless statement that President Buhari will set Nigeria on fire if he doesn’t implement the demands of the South-South people.
You will recall that the South-South leaders including Governor Wike had demanded the restructuring of the country in line with the principle of true federalism, saying, it will guarantee peace, security and stability in the country.
They consensually made this demand recently in a meeting with the presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari.
However, the Rivers State Governor, Nyson Wike subsequently reacted negatively that the President will set Nigeria on fire if he does not implement the demands of the South-South zone.
Reacting to Wike’s inordinate statement, Rotimi Amaechi, who was Governor of Rivers State between 2007 and 2015, lambasted him and opined that such statement is reckless and unlawful. He then cautioned him that such statement shouldn’t come out from the mouth of a Governor.
According to the minister, the South-South people had the opportunity of restructuring the country under the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan but nothing was done.
The former Governor spoke recently on Channels Television (Sunday Politics programme monitored).
He said, “I am from the South-South and while I agree that we are not fairly treated, I don’t also agree anybody can set the country on fire; no president should act on such threat. A well matured leader won’t make such a detrimentary statement.”
“Why is that only when the North is in power that we raise the issue of restructuring? Have we asked ourselves that we had the opportunity of been in government for six years and nothing changed?”
“I’m not against the president addressing the demands but the president can’t address them under threats.”
The ex-governor, who has been at loggerheads with Wike since he left office in 2015, however, refused to comment on possible reconciliation with his successor.
