Date Published: 11/05/09

Its futile fighting Amaechi, Wike tells Odili, others in Abuja

Rotimi Amechi

CHIEFof Staff, to Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike has called on the former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili, and his political associates residing in Abuja, the federal capital city, to forget about fighting Amaechi.

He claimed that their continued plot to oust the governor will not yield any dividend. ''I think the best option for them is to forget about the past, and embrace the incumbent administration'', he said.

Among the leading lights of the Odili group are for Transport Minister Dr. Abiye Sekibo, and Celestine Omehia, who was sacked from office by Amaechi through the ruling of the Supreme Court on October 25, 2007.

 Wike is appealing to all the aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to bury the hatchet and rally round the government of Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to enable him grapple with the enormous responsibilities of moving the state forward.

He made the appeal on Thursday in an interview with newsmen at the Airforce Base on arrival from Abuja where he attended the Supreme Court session that dismissed the application brought before it by Sir Celestine Omehia.

Wike said the ruling of the Supreme Court lay to rest the tension generated by the prayers of Sir Omehia that the apex court should reverse itself on the landmark judgment of October 25, 2009, which ordered Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to be sworn-in as the substantive governor of Rivers State.

According to him, “the ruling has buried for now the ambition of Sir Omehia to be governor, may be in 2011, he may want to contest, nobody would stop him but it is not for him to take over from Amaechi today.

He noted that people has been fed with a lot of lies in the past concerning the cases in court and explained the issues which led to the present situation at the Supreme Court, describing Sir Omehia application as “judicial rascality”.

The Amaechi aid, used the opportunity to call on Sir Celestine Omehia to come back and support his brother and those working with the present administration to improve the fortunes of the state.

On the matter involving Chief Bekinbo Soberekon of Accord Party, Chief Wike said the Accord Party Governorship candidate in the 2007 election is asking the court to grant him leave to file an appeal and the leave has not been granted yet, noting that the hearing of the appeal itself would come later.

The Chief of Staff, therefore urged Chief Soberekon to see reason not to extend Governor Amaechi’s tenure by insisting on the matter which, though would be good for the incumbent governor, would not be in the interest of the politics of Rivers State.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Information Mrs Ibim Seminetari said time has come for everybody to come together to move the state forward as the political rancor was not really necessary.

Mrs Seminetari opined that since the Supreme Court, which has the final say on constitutional matters, has said that there was nothing more to discuss on Amaechi’s candidature as governor of the state, what remains is for Sir Celestine Omehia and other party members to embrace the status quo and support the governor whose policies are people oriented.

In his comment, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Mr Timothy Nsirim noted that Governor Amaechi has already won the heart of the people through his laudable policies and programmes, especially in the health and education sectors and other infrastructure such as roads, appealing that Rivers people should join hands with Governor Amaechi to make the state a better place.

His Emohua Local Government Area counterpart Mr Emeka Woke, remarked that God who was responsible for governor Amaechi’s enthronement is not a God of confusion adding that Rivers people are pleased with the developments in the state and stressed the need for all to accept God’s verdict as power belongs to Him.