…
Says Wike Wants to Harass, Blackmail, Threaten officials of His Administration
Into Making False Claims of Corruption.
The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi has raised alarm over attempts by the new occupant of Government House
in Port Harcourt, Barr. Nyesom Wike to intimidate, threaten and blackmail
officials of his (Amaechi's) administration, including civil servants into
making false, phony and bogus claims of alleged corruption and corrupt
practices against him (Amaechi) and his wife, Judith; concocted claims that
cannot be substantiated.
Amaechi also debunked claims by Wike that the seat of power in the
State, Government House, Port Harcourt was vandalized and looted by him. He
described Wike's provocative utterances as another cheap smear campaign and
ploy to siphon billions of naira from the State treasury under the guise of renovating
a 'vandalized' and 'looted' Government House.
This is contained in a statement released on behalf of the former
Governor by his spokesman, David Iyofor.
Amaechi stated that Wike had gone to ridiculous and absurd lengths to
show his imaginary claims of vandalisation and looting in Government House in
his bid to vote billions of naira for renovation of the place.
He said, “I am aware that this (Monday) morning, Wike in company of his
coterie of court jesters took some video cameramen and photographers on a tour
of the Governor's residence inside Government House. He took them to the
Governor's bedroom where he made further claims that the place has been
looted.”
“The question to ask is, did
Wike know what was in my former bedroom before now, to conclude that the
bedroom was looted? Did he speak with or review with the Permanent Secretary of
Government House, who is the chief accounting officer before jumping into such
hasty and misguided conclusion?”
“Apparently, he had already reached a conclusion before arriving
Government House, and all he has been saying and doing is to work towards that
conclusion of looting and vandalisation. It's instructive to note that on
Friday, May 29, Wike had barred some key officials of Government House,
including civil servants from accessing the place. 48 hours later, he started
shouting 'vandalisation and looting'. This doesn't smell right. I left the
place intact. If there's any vandalisation or looting in Government House after
I left, Rivers people should ask Wike what happened.”
“This is clearly a grand conspiracy to siphon state funds in the guise
of renovating a vandalized and looted Government House and falsely smear my
image. On the latter, Wike is sparing no expense, employing all sorts of
insidious tactics to accuse me and rub me with the tar of corruption.”
“I am aware that a plot is on by Wike to harass,intimidate, threaten,
blackmail and do whatever it takes to get officials, including civil servants,
who served in my administration to make false and phony claims of corruption
against me, personally, and my dear wife, Judith; in spite of the fact that my
wife was never an official of Government or public officeholder. These false,
bogus and illusive claims can never be substantiated but Wike doesn't care. All
he wants is to taint my good name with screaming headlines of corruption and
corrupt practices in the media. But, he will certainly fail.”
Amaechi urged the media to beware of this plot, scrutinize thoroughly
and disregard any of Wike's wild and false claims of corrupt practices against
him and his wife. He further advised the media to be weary and discard the
stage-managed video by Wike purportedly showing the looting and vandalisation
of Government House, Port Harcourt. “The
video is a fraud. Stage-managed to deceive and hoodwink the public”, the
statement concluded.
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