Controversy has continued to trail the activities of the Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to probe his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi. A section of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believes that the investigation is necessary to foster accountability. But, many indigenes have cried foul, saying that the governor set up the panel to humiliate his former boss because he collaborated with progressives in other geo-political zones to abort the second term ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan. EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the politics of the probe and the crisis it has unleashed on the Southsouth state.
The probe of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is generating ripples. Governor Nyesom Wike, who set up the Commission of Inquiry to investigate his predecessor, has explained that Amaechi has a duty to shed light on the finances of the state when he was in charge. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has hailed the probe, said that it is a moment of accountability.
But, many indigenes have objected to the probe, saying that the governor is full of vendetta. The investigation, in their view, was meant to dent the image of the former governor. They argue that, a credibility crisis is being orchestrated by the PDP to discourage President Muhammadu Buhari from nominating Amaechi for any position in the Federal Executive Council. Between now and the time the President will name his cabinet, the campaign of calumny will intensify in the media to pull down the former governor.
According to the Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike is afraid of the rising influence of Amaechi, who is perceived as one of the heroes of democracy. In a statement, the APC Chairman, Davies Ikanya, said: “These retrogressive forces, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, are so afraid of the shadow of Amaechi to the extent that they are willing to go to any length to ensure that he is not accommodated in President Buhari’s cabinet.” The party chairman said that it is ironical that Wike, who rode to power through a flawed electoral process, has raised a panel to probe his successor.
Four years ago, Wike and Amaechi, were political allies. Wike, a lawyer, was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff. During the second term battle, he was also the Coordinator of the Amaechi Campaign Organisation. Little did the two friends know that they will part ways, ahead of the last general elections. Their political difference has polarised the Southsouth state. While Amaechi defected to the All progressives Congress (APC), following protracted rift between him and former President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike became the arrowhead of the PDP in Rivers. Amaechi worked for President Buhari’s success at the poll. But, he was succeeded by Wike, although the battle has now shifted from the ballot box to the court.
On the campaign podium, Wike had threatened to probe his former boss. When he was sworn in, he unfolded a plan to carry out a forensic audit of government accounts. He said the probe is consistent with the anti-corruption crusade of the APC-led Federal Government. Amaechi challenged him to carry out the threat.
On June 19, the governor set up the panel. The commission is headed by Justice George Omereji. Other members are Dr. Edith Chukwu, Chief Monday Ekekenta, Ven. Alex Isifo and Elder Ignatius Piegbara. Reacting to the setting up of the panel, Amaechi said it was not set up in good faith, adding that it was a sham and fraudulent witch-hunt to deceive the people. “All the noise Wike is making is to grab media headlines with his lies of monumental corruption against Amaechi. It is all drama made for the media. What is playing out is a script written and directed by Nyesom Wike. Wike should move to Nollywod where his devious skills would probably be useful. While it is no longer in doubt what would be the report of Wike’s sham probe commission, what may shock Nigerians is the extent Wike has gone and is ready to go to manufacture stories of corrupt practices and the kind of bogus tales of corruption against Amaechi that he would soon be feeding the nation,” he added.
It is not the first time Amaechi will run into storm in his political career. When he vied for the governor, powerful forces nearly denied him the mandate. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said his ambition had k-leg. He survived. The second term battle was also fiercely fought in Rivers. At the end, he was victorious. His second term was turbulent. The former President, Jonathan, and his wife, Dame Patience, who hails from Rivers, moved against him. At a public function, the former first lady snatched the microphone from him. Later, the police, led by Joseph Mbu, became a thorn in his flesh. He was even denied entrance into his office. The battle shifted to the House of Assembly. Efforts to impeach Amaechi unlawfully were resisted. Despite the awesome presidential powers, he triumphed.
The on-going probe is another phase of his political life. Efforts to stop the probe has failed. A court has affirmed the right of the governor to probe the previous administration. A High Court Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, said the panel was set up, not to investigate the former governor in person, but his defunct administration.
However, many stakeholders have picked holes in the investigation. Former Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Worgu Boms described the probe as a comedy of errors. He accused Wike of bias, saying that he has demonstrated prejudice. He also alleged that some members of what he described as ill-conceived and ill-motivated panel, have their bias towards the former governor.
His counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, described the probe as an unnecessary diversion from subsisting electoral issues. Besides, she said the probe cannot dent Amaechi’s image because he lived up to expectation as governor. The former commissioner said that the people will always applaud the achievements of the governor in the last eight years. “These achievements are visible in all sectors,” she added.
Amaechi, who has never underestimated Wike’s capacity for politicking, reasoned that the governor set up the probe to create more crisis so that stakeholders can bring the two sides to reconciliation. He said, since Wike knew that he got to the State House through fraudulent election, he decided to witch-hunt him so that he can yield to pressure to withdraw the suit against his victory. Amaechi said that the APC and its candidate, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, will now bow to pressure to abandon the case.
Explaining why he has refused to appear before the panel, the former governor said the panel is illegal. “He has not complied with the law in setting up the panel. The rule of natural justice and fair hearing is not adhered to. You sit down and you tell a man, ‘go and find him guilty openly. He is guilty; go and investigate him,” Amaechi stressed.
The former governor denied the allegations of corruption. He said Wike should reflect and examine himself before throwing stones. He challenged anyone to name any account in his name, except his official salary account and the FCMB account. When the time is ripe, he promised to open upon Wike.
Amaechi said: “The funny thing about the young man is that he knows that I know him. I know Nyesom Wike up to his companies.; Zico, Easy E. I was his governor and I have documents to show that he is a contractor. I have Wike’s account details. But, you don’t reply him by saying, you see, you are a thief, see what you stole. It will appear like I am a thief, but you are also a thief. So, what you do is to say no, I am not a thief and I don’t know what this man is talking about.
“Rivers people forget so easily, and I annoys me. During the campaign, I named the roads that nyesom Wike did and abandoned. He is reconstructing some of them after we have paid him and no Rivers man is talking or asking, except the young boys who are replying him on the social media.”
