The rivalry between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, got to a head, Saturday, when the minister’s security details allegedly blocked the governor’s convoy in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Wike said the action by security details attached to his estranged friend and former boss was an assassination attempt.
The governor said operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and soldiers on Mr. Amaechi’s convoy attacked him while on project inspection at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the Governor, Simeon Nwakaudu, indicated the SARS personnel and soldiers brought down the outrider in governor’s convoy and attacked some policemen in the pilot car.
“The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car,” the governor said.
“Mr Debewari, aide-de-camp, to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.
“Also part of the attack was the Commander of Rivers SARS, Mr Akin Fakorede, who received the Minister of Transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied on his trip.”
After the attack, Mr. Wike, who said he was not hurt, went ahead to inspect more projects within the state capital.
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However, the governor alleged that Mr. Amaechi came in a motorcade with over 50 security details including SARS, soldiers and anti-riot policemen.
Attempts to speak with the media aide to the minister, David Iyofo, failed as calls to his mobile phone would not connect.
However, a statement by the Media Assistant to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the state, Eze Chukwuemeka, said it was Mr. Wike who attempted to assassinate Mr. Amaechi.
Part of the statement reads, “The Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) describes the plot to assassinate Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Transportation by Governor Nyesom Wike and his agents as heinous, evil, despicable and madness taken too far.
“Amaechi who was on official tour to Rivers State was on 11th November, 2017 attacked to be assassinated on the orders of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
“Report made available to us by Prince Tonye Princewill an associate to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who happened to be in the same car with the minister indicates that Governor Wike’s Dispatch Rider pulled a pistol to assassinate Rotimi Amaechi but missed his target after which Amaechi’s ADC, Debiwari intervened to save the minister from further assassination attempt.
Quoting Mr. Princewill, the APC chairman’s spokesperson continued, “I am at a loss if this was not an assassination attempt on the minister, somebody should explain to me in a clearer sentence why did the Wike’s dispatch rider failed to stop the two security vehicles of the minister which had already crossed but decided for whatever reasons to block the vehicle in which the minister was driving.”
NEXT EDITION could not independently confirm from Mr. Princewill if he was in the minister’s convoy when the clash with the governor occurred.
