Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has slammed the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over his comment on the security situation in the state.
Speaking at the burial of a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, in the Abonnema area of the state, Wike who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Emeka Woke, accused his predecessor of falsehood and propaganda.
Earlier, Amaechi had said the rising insecurity and political intimidation in the state is worrisome, adding that the River state government is responsible for the current development in the state.
The minister added that the state was back to the time of Ateke Tom, a former militant leader, who caused fear and panic among Rivers residents.
“You have lost your voice. The sage (the late justice) has gone under and nobody is speaking. When I was governor, I gave people voices, but they have blocked those voices.
“Everyone is scared. We are going back to when Ateke held sway. We are going back to the period where we run away from our people. We are back to a period when nobody could speak. But from next year, I will begin to speak, if nobody wants to speak,” Amaechi said.
Reacting to Amaechi’s comments, Governor Wike said his predecessor is not in tune with developments in the state, adding that the security situation in the state had improved greatly since the launching of Operation Sting.
Wike said, “It is unfortunate for Amaechi to come to Kalabari land and accuse former President Goodluck Jonathan of not developing the area six years after he had left office.
“I wonder why the former governor will choose to make such embarrassing remarks at the funeral of late Justice Karibi-Whyte, a man he (Amaechi) claimed to be his mentor.”
