Governor Wike Finally Discloses Why He Must Probe Amaechi

The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike claimed on Wednesday, September 16, that the setting up of the panel of inquiry in the state to investigate Rotimi Amaechi was a step taken from President Muhammadu Buhari who has also been looking into how public funds were spent under the last administration as part of the fight against corruption. According to aDaily Post report, the governor vowed to implement the recommendations of the Justice George Omereji-led judicial commission of inquiry. The judicial commission of inquiry was constituted to probe the sale of Rivers state’s assets and to also look into other matters concerning the management of state resources by the past administration. Governor Wike noted that he is probing the former governor just the same way President Buhari is scrutinizing the the ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. However, he deplored the level of alleged financial crimes committed with impunity under the ex-governor of the state, adding that the criticism against the panel will not deter him from punishing all those found culpable. The governor had made this known in a statement through his special adviser on media and publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, noting that he was not the first to establish a commission of inquiry. He stressed that even Amaechi who has been crying foul also set up the Justice Kayode Esho commission of inquiry before which his predecessor, the former governor Peter Odili appeared. Wike further raised an objection dispelling the notions that the Omereji-led commission of inquiry was established purposely to indict Amaechi. He stated that the panel was set up based on the relevant laws of the state. He said:“The implementation of the commission’s recommendations shall be devoid of fear or favour, affection or ill will. The refusal to appear before the panel is an admission of guilt. The allegation that the Justice Omereji’s commission of inquiry is a subterfuge to indict Rotimi Amaechi suffers from the eclipse of reasoning and poverty of logic. “Amaechi set up the Justice Kayode Esho’s commission and when former governor Peter Odili was invited, he obliged despite the fact that Justice Esho had made some uncomplimentary remarks about a perpetual injunction concerning Odili,”Wike said. Wike condemned the All Progressives Congress in the state for its position on the commission of inquiry wondering why his predecessor did not properly hand over to him. The governor noted that the Omereji panel was set up to probe the expenditures made by Amaechi’s government, stating that it is what any responsible government will do owing to the fact that the taxpayers’ money is not for one man, especially when certain financial transactions are opaque. He said: “It is even more important when the outgoing administration demurred to hand over or when there are no handover notes. The welter of criticisms by the APC in Rivers state is actuated by the fear of exposure. It is just hocus-pocus. “Governor Wike inherited a hobbling economy and a suffocating treasury. He provided the life-saving machine and today, the state is recuperating. The sittings (of the panel) were not done clandestinely and all that was expected of Amaechi and his acolytes was for them to appear and prove their innocence.”