Supporters of the People Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State yesterday disagreed on the decision of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi rejecting the Golden Jubilee award conferred on him by the state government.
Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, in a statement by his media office, described the award and honour given to him by Governor Nyesom Wike as “a poisoned chalice”.
But Wike, through his Commissioner for Information, Austin Tam-George, said: “Giving Amaechi’s sanctimonious statement of rejection, it was important to clarify that the Rivers State government never set out to honour him for any meritorious service to the state during his time as governor.”
In separate reactions yesterday, APC supporters backed Amaechi’s decision to reject the award, while PDP supporters said the former governor did not deserve any award from the state government.
Iheanyichukwu Zubi Dike, a lawyer and Amaechi’s loyalist, said it was unthinkable for anyone to condemn the minister’s rejection of the award when his action fitted the prevailing circumstance.
He said: “Nothing good will come from Governor Wike. The rejection of the award is in order. Do you expect Amaechi to take an award from a man who appears to be the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the state and we have witnessed incessant bloody killings, including innocent citizens of the state?
“To be frank, Amaechi shouldn’t align himself with such a man. I think Amaechi’s action is in the right direction.”
Ezemonye Ezekiel, a former commissioner under Amaechi’s administration, said it was wrong that after Wike had publicly insulted Amaechi and called him names, he (Wike) turned round to include his name for an award.
He said: “I’m in support of my leader, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Even if he is to accept an award, it should not be from Governor Wike. How can the governor call somebody a thief and all kinds of abusive name and, after some time, the same person turned back to offer the ‘thief’ an award?”
Another APC supporter and lawyer Chizim Enyi said Amaechi deserved an applause for rejecting the “unclean award”.
He said: “I’m strongly in support of Amaechi’s decision to reject the state award. The governor and his supporters have never seen anything good in Amaechi. This is the same Wike who abandoned agricultural policy put in place by Amaechi. Today, he wants to give him an award what for.
A PDP chieftain Frank Owusonye said Amaechi’s rejection of the state award showed “arrogance and unnecessary relevance”.
He said: “Amaechi’s action is totally condemnable. He just showed the people of the state that he doesn’t want a peaceful relationship with the governor and the people of the state. At this moment of state’s Golden Jubilee celebration, Amaechi should have shown a little love.”
“He is not the only past governor recognised through the Jubilee Award but he chose to declaim the offer, even when all of us know that he doesn’t merit the award…”
Another PDP chieftain in Omuma Local Government Area, Chief Harrison Anunam said Rivers State residents condemned Amaechi’s decision to reject the award.
He said: “Amaechi could have shown a sign of humility by letting those he described as his detractors to know that he is a different person…” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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