BY Taiwo George
The presidency has threatened to file a legal action against Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, over the manner that he has been attacking President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
Describing Amaechi’s recent utterances against Jonathan as deliberate falsehood, Reuben Abati, presidential spokesman, said the governor should not be deceived by the immunity he presently enjoys because he would soon be made to face consequences of his actions.
“Governor Rotimi Amaechi took his obnoxious willingness to denigrate the highest office in the land in a reckless bid to advance his selfish political interests to a new level of irresponsible and rascally behavior,” Abati said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“It appears from the Governor’s completely unfounded and off-the-mark allegations that he had totally lost all sense of propriety, decorum and responsible political behaviour and resorted to unacceptable demagoguery, libel, blackmail and incitement of public disorder.
“We warn him that there are legal, constitutional and moral limits to political rascality beyond which he will not be allowed to go without repercussions.”
Abati said Amaechi has been unable to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Rivers, alleging that the governor has siphoned billions of naira meant for the development of the state.
“Nigerians know that while Mr. Amaechi falsely accuses others of corruption, he cannot show or explain to the people of Rivers State what he has done with the billions of Naira that has accrued to the state under his tenure,” he said.
“They also know that while Amaechi continues to falsely accuse the Jonathan administration of having done nothing for Rivers state, he has recklessly squandered huge state resources on dubious, vain-glorious projects or self aggrandizement.
“The Governor should stop trying to make President Jonathan the scapegoat for his woeful performance in Rivers State and look to his own very apparent failings and incompetencies.
“He should also stop blackmailing the first lady who has demanded nothing from him other than good governance, justice, equity, fairness, real development and progress in Rivers state.”
Amaechi was elected twice as governor under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the height of his disagreement with Jonathan.
He had frequently directed veiled criticism at Jonathan and his wife. Only on Friday, the governor alleged that his misunderstanding with the first lady is based on his refusal to part with money meant for the state.
He also came down hard on the president during a rally organised by APC to mark his seventh anniversary in office.
The rally, which held at Port Harcourt on Saturday, had a massive turnout. Stalwarts of the opposition party were also in attendance.
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