Transport Minister and former Governor of Rivers State, Rt.Hon Chibuike
Amaechi has said that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has committed
impeachable offence by failing to protect lives and property of the
people.
Mr Chibuike Amaechi, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise
Daily on Tuesday, accused Governor Wike of allowing violence to thrive in
the state.
“The crisis in the state has gotten to a point where people’s lives and
property are lost. I thought that the responsibility of the Governor is to
protect lives and property.
“The only offence that is constitutional and you can refer to as
impeachable, is when the Governor is not able to protect lives and
property,” he emphasised.
The Minister, however, dismissed claims by the Police that the crisis in
Omoku was as a result of cultists’ activities.
“Does the Commissioner of Police mean that the Peoples Democratic Party
cultists are fighting against the All Progressives Congress members.
“Whether they are cultists or not, the reason why lawlessness is surviving
is because you don’t punish those who break the law,” he said.
At least six persons were killed in Rivers State when Omoku community in
Onelga, came under heavy gunfire on February 13.
Police said it was a cult battle for supremacy.
The attack occurred less than 48 hours after a former lawmaker, who
represented ‘Onelga Constituency One’ in the Rivers State House of
Assembly between 1999 and 2003, was killed by yet to be identified gunmen
in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Giving his opinion about the way forward to stop the crisis, the Minister
said that “the Governor has to stop supporting violence”.
“If he doesn’t encourage the militants, they won’t be doing what they are
doing. If anybody is found to have broken the law, punish him,” he added.