The Rotimi Amaechi Mud Pool, By Olulana Alofe

 

Back in August, Integrity Group tabled a list of allegations against former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi which was sent to President Buhari and the EFCC sometime later according to them.

 

Ordinarily, this is not even up for debate. An honorable man should remove himself from consideration as a Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria with such allegations hanging over his head. However, this is not a normal situation. You ask me why?

 

The history between the incumbent Governor of Rivers State, Wike and his former boss Amaechi. They have had a very cantankerous relationship which has led to each wanting to destroy the other… more or less. Accusation and counter accusation have been thrown by both at each other and so this detailed report by Integrity Group at Wike's behest is questionable.

 

I cannot reproduce it here because the news media which carries the detailed report is not a nationally verifiable media source. None of the National carriers published the documentation of the allegations to the best of my knowledge. There is mention of Rivers State Government wanting to indict Amaechi but that government itself is not yet out of the woods with reference to it being a legally constituted one!

 

If Rotimi Amaechi is not guilty and this is nothing more than a collection of false accusations which turn into trumped up charges and he loses out on a ministerial appointment because of that, it will just be too bad. Should he be guilty and after he becomes a Minister the case goes to court, it will be a national embarrassment. A personal one for President Buhari at that. Not good.

 

An independent body should investigate those claims and verify which ones are real. The Police right? In Rivers State? Wrong! Mr Amaechi must defend himself if any are found to be credible. How does that play out with his nomination as a minister? If he is thinking about the boomerang effect, the option he should take is clear. Should he be concerned about his reputation, the road to take is also very obvious.

 

I think back to the case of the Governor of Anambra state who was impeached because he had to face what later turned out to be false allegations. Peter Obi returned triumphantly as Governor but not after Nigeria's "first" female Governor, Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba was sworn in and held the office from November 2006 to February 2007. Her status as Nigeria's first and only female Governor is questionable.

 

That was totally unnecessary. The Amaechi saga too may end up being very unnecessary as well. Too much dust has been thrown in the air and we cannot see too clearly.

 

Who wrote about fighting with pigs again? Next in line?