Former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that politically, he is “fully on ground” in Rivers State and nobody can chase him out of the oil-bearing state.
Amaechi, a former governor of the 57-year-old state, also described as false and misleading a report that he was hobnobbing with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State because he was idle.
In a statement, Amaechi said: “I have only seen Alex thrice since I left office. Once, at his inauguration and the other two times, at mine, when he visited, including at my recent graduation. That cancels out the first lie.
“But in case the lazy and inane reporter would like to know, Alex and I had been friends since our university days. He was a year, my junior. We were all members of the Marxist Movement of Nigeria and also Youth Solidarity of Southern Africa and Nigeria under NANS (National Association of Nigerian Students).
“Thus, since my time as both the Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, our friendship had continued and in fact, he had been asking me lately to go and observe some rest because he thought I looked tired. But I think that’s because I’d been studying hard lately.
“Another former governor that I share similar relationship with is Senator Simon Lalong of Plateau State, whose elections I supported with everything a good friend possibly could, and he, too, remains my friend.
“So, staying off the radar of the current political misfortune is deliberate, especially since I am very busy with my academics at the moment. I’m currently writing examinations and therefore do not have the time for frivolities.
“If the reporter’s concern is that I am not talking, maybe partly because I am truly unhappy with the Nigerian citizens for their docility and the nation in general.
“But, certainly, not a cowardly choice. Let me state very clearly and also for the record, no one can chase me out of my state, Rivers, not even the intrepid nuisance currently strutting the stage. Far from it.
“Taken together, I don’t know if that report is as a result of poor training or deliberate mischief. But, whichever it is, the individual needs to also consider the integrity and credibility of his platform.”
