TheCable

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has called on Nyesom Wike,  governor of Rivers state, to resign.

Amaechi, a former governor of the state, said this in reaction to the killings at Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) local government area of the state.

At least 21 people were reportedly shot dead in Omoku, a community in ONELGA, on Monday.

Amaechi accused Wike of encouraging militant groups “because of politics and election”.

“I think the governor needs to get a bit more serious, he should stop encouraging the militant groups in the name of politics and election,” he told state house correspondents.

“You heard about 21 only in Omoku, what about in Akuku Toru where two persons were killed? What about other LGA. I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.

“I was governor of Rivers state, I did not play PDP/APC politics, life is life it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life. The first responsibility of a governor which is what the oath of office requires is that you swear to protect lives and property. When you don’t protect life and property what do you do? Unfortunately, there is no house of assembly in Rivers state.

“Too much noise coming from Rivers state, the governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people that’s all he does. Mr. Project painting roads? The first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings safe and we are losing lives every day.

“Two important men were kidnapped before I left Port Harcourt, the first person is Chief Adoki till today, nearly one month after nobody can tell you where he is. The next person is Chief Omogu, he was kidnapped luckily the villagers ran after the people and rescued the old man from the bush.

“It never happened when I was governor. We (the security and myself) ensured that we will not sleep at night. We stayed awake for the citizens to sleep, I think the governor needs to do much more than that or quit office.”

Asked what he thinks Wike lacks, Amaechi said, “I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with.

“He is not like me when during my second term President Goodluck Jonathan took away Police, SSS, the army brigade commander couldn’t visit me but in his case, everyone is disposed to him. He can see the commissioner of police, director SSS, unlike my period but we fought insecurity. But because he needs these people for election purpose that is why they are still there, that is why they are killing we need much more than that.

“Unfortunately, I swore not to be talking about Rivers anymore but you don’t keep quiet in the face of 21 lives, you can’t just keep quiet. I have said it that nobody should criticise his successor let him do his beat but a successor that watches the lives of people go like that and does not care? God will bless him!”

Meanwhile, Wike has promised a N200 million reward for anyone who can help security agencies with information that could lead to the arrest of the assailants.