Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday denied labeling his successor and current governor of the South-South state, Nyesom Wike, a drunk.
Reacting to the allegation on Arise TV breakfast programme, the minister of transportation disclosed that such comment would amount to disrespecting a sitting governor.
“I didn’t say that. That will be disrespectful of a governor. I only say that I don’t make statements under the influence of alcohol. Some people are attaching meaning to what I say,” he said.
The minister who is a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress and Wike, a political gladiator in the Peoples Democratic Party, have not been at loggerheads despite coming from the same state.
Recall that the Rivers governor had on Wednesday accused the APC-led Federal Government of shielding Amaechi from prosecution over an alleged misappropriation of proceeds from the sales of some state assets.
“People gave you opportunity. You sold our properties, everything. And people are talking in this state because of the government that says they are fighting corruption and protecting people. You (Amaechi) sold our property for $308m and kept for us $208,000.
“That is the kind of people parading themselves in government, for a government that says they are fighting corruption, shame,” he rued.
When asked what he thought about Wike’s accusation on the live programme, Amaechi was unfazed.
“I don’t think I want to address the issue of the governor, I have made my point, I have moved on. He was my staff, I can’t bring myself low. I was a governor, I was also a speaker, I’m a minister. I was two-term chairman of governors’ forum. The same when I was a speaker. Why should I be discussing about him (Wike)?” he asked.
