A public affairs commentator and National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has lashed out at one of Rivers elder statesmen, Anabs Sara-Igbe, for attempting to draw a line of comparison between two former Rivers State governors, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (CRA) and Barr. Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Eze submitted that there was no basis for such comparison because history and posterity have always been kind to Barr. Amaechi, for contributing immensely towards the development, peace and unity of Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region.
Elder Sara-Igbe, had pointed out what he described as a noticeable difference between Amaechi and Wike in terms of attracting federal appointments for their associates and why Niger Delta people may not support his presidential ambition.
He opined that Wike, currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has been able to bring several opportunities to individuals aligned with him.
Reacting, Chief Eze described Elder Sara-Igbe’s comparison of the two former governors as attention-seeking and a lame narrative solely aimed at gauging whether peoples negative perception of Wike, due to his erratic behaviour is dipping.
The APC chieftain wondered why a respected prominent son of Rivers State will throw caution to the wind, by comparing Amaechi and Wike
“I respect elder Sara-Igbe, but I want him to know that you cannot twist history, no matter how hard you try to be evasive.
“Light and Darkness are two parallel lines that cannot intersect. Can you compare light and darkness?
“Certainly, the answer is no. So, it’s out of place to attempt to compare Amaechi and Wike.
“Amaechi is likened to light, whereas, majority of Nigerians see Wike, due to his above-all status, as darkness personified.
“It beats my imagination that somebody will use personal aggrandizement, and hope for appointments to family members and cronies as a yardstick to draw comparison, Chief Eze stated.
He regretted exchanging banters with Elder Sara-Igbe, whom he said he respected so much so far as the politics of Niger-Delta was concerned.
But according to the vocal politician cum media czar, “the fact remains that whoever talks ill or tries to cast aspersion on the person of Amaechi, definitely touches me in the wrong way as a person”.
“As much as I respect him for whom he is in the politics of Rivers State, being one of those elders most of us are emulating, but to attempt either to compare light (Amaechi) with darkness (Wike), to some of us is, baseless, unacceptable, sad, unfortunate and an insult to Amaechi, Eze insisted.
He posited that the two leaders are poles apart in their approaches to issues, arguing that on what basis would one compare a master and a servant.
“The comparison is incurably defective because the so called Wike, served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi when he was the Governor of Rivers State.
“The same Amaechi, nominated Wike to President Goodluck Jonathan, to be appointed as Minister of Education (State).
“If not for Amaechi’s humane, good heart, kind and calm nature, Nyesom Wike could not have reached the political zenith he is assumed to have achieved in his political journey so far, the APC Chieftain said.
According to Eze, whatever Wike may have achieved in his political life should be attributed to Amaech including the mushroom appointments he has made so far for his so called loyalists.
“In this regard, I wish to beg elder Sara-Igbe to name one single sound political appointment that Wike inspired that could dwarf the appointments attracted by Amaechi to his loyalists including the appointment of Wike as a Minister and Chief Udi as a Minister, Eze asked?
“Has Wike made anybody a Minister? Let me highlight just few of some of the political appointments Amaechi made not necessarily as a Governor but as the most outstanding Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that earned him the Thisday Minister of the Decade award covering the tenure of Wike as a Minister.
Eze stated that through Amaechi in 2015, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Andrew Uchendu and a couple of Federal and State Lawmakers of Rivers extraction were duly elected and we know the inputs these leaders made to the development of Rivers State.
“Which appointment has Wike made to be compared with that of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a great son of Rivers State who was appointed the Director General of NIMASA and the magic he did, excelling under NIMASA will take twenty other Directors-General to achieve what he did”, Eze queried.
He said, “My Elder Sara-Igbe may not understand that today many Rivers State sons and daughters are working in NIMASA, yet Amaechi has not contributed anything to the development of Rivers State.
“It may interest my most respected Elder to note that Hon. Asita, another great son of Rivers State was appointed the Chairman of NIMASA Board through the instrumentality of Amaechi.
“From 2015 till date, Dr. Davies Sonkote, Hon. Brown Onari and others were key players in Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
“Today, through these great leaders, Amaechi influenced many sons and daughters of Rivers State to be employed in NPA.
“The remains that a daughter of Rivers State Dame Maureen Tamuno, through Amaechi who to made no sound appointment was appointed the Ambassador to Jamaica and many Rivers State sons and daughters are aides to this great woman then.
“Before her appointment, Ambassador Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa, another great son of Rivers State was Ambassador to the Netherlands and many Rivers State sons and daughters benefited from his appointment.
“It is also on record that the following great sons of Rivers State, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, Chief Victor Giadom, late Hon. Aso Wenah, Fred Igwe, Prof. Lawrence Chuku and countless others due to the influence of Amaechi, were all members of one Federal Board or the other.
“The one that gives Wike sleepless night is the appointment of Prof. Henry Ugboma, the former CMD of UPTH, an unassuming and smooth operator who has employed more Rivers State sons and daughters than those employed within the seven miserable years of Wike as Governor of Rivers State state.
“Today, through Amaechi, two great sons of Rivers State, Senator Andrew Uchendu and Prof Georgewill Owunari are the Pro-Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively of University of Port Harcourt and sadly your great Wike ensured that Senator Uchendu a great son of Rivers State was removed and replaced by one of his stooges from Abia State, Eze enumerated that is the Wike you are praising and why Niger Delta people will not support Amaechi in his presidential ambition.
Eze reiterated that Amaechi’s presidential aspiration is in God’s Hands and no human being will decide otherwise if God approves it.
The former National Publicity Secretary of the nPDP argued that While Amaechi was a Minister, he did not bring the level of shame and embarrassment that Wike have brought to Rivers State by making the State a laughing stock before Nigerians and the international community over the declaration of state of emergency imposed in Rivers State.
“Were you not around to see all the projects and policies that Amaechi set up in making Rivers State, one of the most outstanding States in Africa both in Agriculture, Education, Security, Health, Tourism, all destroyed and thwarted by Wike?
“Uncle, I plead with you to refute this your misguided, filthy and incongruous statement and stand to avoid history listing you amongst those that are in support of darkness instead of light.
“These not withstanding, I do agree with my most respected elder statesman that powerful political positions are usually expected to translate into tangible benefits for loyal followers as many politicians rely on these opportunities to strengthen their networks, reward loyalty, and consolidate their political base”, he stated.
