The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters, Mr. Andrew Uchendu, alleged on Tuesday that the life of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had come under threat from the Federal Government and its agents.
Uchendu, who represents Ikwerre Federal Constituency of Rivers State, claimed that recent incidents happening to the governor suggested that he might be killedý if the alarm was not raised.
“It is, therefore, ýmy plea to all men of goodwill to prevail on the Federal Government and its agents to allow Amaechi to live. He is a full-blooded Nigerian citizen and elected by the people of Rivers State”, Uchendu told a news conference in Abuja.
He noted that in spite of the fact that Sections 40/41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), guaranteed every Nigerian the freedom of movement, the government had allegedly denied Amaechi this right in recent times.
The lawmaker cited four instances in which he said the governor’s freedom was interfered with by the government.
He recalled that in May 2013, the Rivers State Government’s aircraft was impounded in Akure, Ondo State, after Amaechi flew in the plane on his way to Ado-Ekiti to commiserate with the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, over the death of the state’ former deputy governor.
“On the governor’s return to the airport to leave for Port Harcourt, shockingly, he was not allowed to fly out because his aircraft had been impounded for some strange reasons.
“The plane remained impounded until a few days ago when it was released,” Uchendu added.
He also cited a June 9 incident in ýKano State, where Amaechi’s chartered aircraft was impounded as he visited the state to condole with the government and the people of the state over the death of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.
“The Kano incident was seen to be worse because the governor was not even allowed to leave the airport without some hot exchanges of words. It was shocking that the governor had to drive to Abuja that night for fear of being killed,” he stated.
Uchendu recalled a third incident on June 19 when soldiers reportedly stopped the governor in Akure and prevented Amaechi from entering Ado-Ekiti to attend a rally organised by his political party, the All Progressives Congress.
“To worsen matters, his aircraft was impounded and he was made to drive to Lagos from that point. Soldiers maintained by taxpayers’ money, and at gunpoint, forced the governor to leave Ondo State.
“What could be worse than this in a democratic setting and to an elected governor of a state?ý This is truly an aberration in governance”, Uchendu added.
The lawmaker alleged that in all the incidents cited above, the agents of government claimed to be acting on “orders from above.”
Source: TheTidesNewspaper
