Rivers
State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has accused the Minister of
Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, of being unpatriotic and
politicising the security of Rivers State.
Governor Wike, who responded to Amaechi’s allegation through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu in TheCable,
an online website described as false, baseless and unfounded, the
allegation by Amaechi that the governor was responsible for his
inability to clear the two Bell 412 helicopters, Amaechi’s
administration paid for.
The
governor noted that the documents regarding the communication
between the Rivers State Government and the relevant federal agencies on
the said helicopters are in the public domain, adding that from
Amaechi’s statement , the Jonathan administration through the office
of the the National Security Adviser (NSA) paid $15 million, which was
half the cost of the two armoured helicopters.
“At
no point in the entire transaction did Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike then
a Minister interfere with the process of the acquisition of the
helicopters. He had no reason to stop a process for which the then
Jonathan administration committed $15m as admitted by Amaechi, a
politician who is notorious for his obsession for falsehood.
Furthermore, contrary to Amaechi’s claim that his administration
improved security in the state, his administration was compelled to
procure armoured helicopters because of the porous security nature
of the state at the time,” Wike said.
Wike
added that despite Amaechi’s refusal to formally hand over, he
embarked on due diligence, and discovered the transaction and
followed up the interest of Rivers State and the security of the
people.
“For
the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government under the
leadership of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike took proactive steps to clear
the helicopters for security purposes, but the concerned Federal
agencies deliberately blocked the state government. As a result of the
commitment of the Rivers State Governor to the security of lives and
property devoid of partisan politics, he applied to the President for
the two Bell 412 helicopters to be handed over to the Nigerian Air
Force for custody and management. This patriotic request of Governor
Wike was approved by the National Security Adviser (NSA) vide a letter
dated November 3, 2016 and signed on behalf of the NSA by Brigadier
General A.T. Famadewa,” Wike explained.
Wike
argued that despite the documentary approval by the NSA for the
transfer of the two Bell 412 helicopters to the Nigerian Airforce, it
was shocking that the Nigerian Custom Service had to stage a drama
that the helicopters were imported by unknown persons and that the
service had resolved to transfer same to the Nigerian Air Force.
The
governor alleged that for Amaechi’s statement to be filled with
bitterness, lies and political blackmail is a proof that he was behind
this crime against the people of Rivers State.
Wike
said it was sad that the former governor would take his hatred for the
people of Rivers State to the level of masterminding the diversion of
security helicopters paid for with Rivers funds, which he now wants
to be used in other states.
“That
the security helicopters were hijacked by the Nigerian Customs Service
as a facility under the control of the failed former governor shows
the level he is ready to go as regards the politicisation of security
with a view to attaining unpatriotic goals. Since Mr. Amaechi left
office in 2015, he has been sponsoring crime and criminality in Rivers
State with a view to creating an unstable environment for the
declaration of State of Emergency on Rivers State. However, he has
continued to fail because the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo
Wike is always ahead of him through the initiation and sustenance of a
sound security architecture,” Wike alleged.
Wike
however noted that the fact that the two Bell 412 Helicopters belong
to the Rivers State Government has been established, adding that the
drama staged by the Nigerian Custom Service and the Nigerian Air Force
was therefore unnecessary and unpatriotic .
The
governor also described as politically motivated, the refusal to grant
the Rivers State Government waiver to clear the said helicopters.
“Amaechi
could not provide the people of Rivers State with good governance
that was why he had to recourse to the purchase of Armoured Helicopters.
“I
have no need for armoured helicopters because I have provided the good
people of Rivers State with good governance and they are happy with
him. In any case, Rivers State is not at war with any country, hence
there is no need for armoured helicopters.
“I
will continue to deliver good governance to the Rivers’ people. This
has led to the improvement of security, despite the evil political
machinations of Amaechi and his cohorts,” the statement said.
Source: [ThisdayNG]
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