Press Statement
Worried and shocked by the level of looting of facilities in the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt by the former Governor of the State, Rotimi Amaechi and his aides, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Felix Obuah has sent a passionate appeal to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to prevail on one of their own, Amaechi, to kindly return all the looted items, as failure to do that will continue to present both the APC and the former occupant of the State House, Amaechi in bad light.
The PDP Chairman unequivocally condemns such childish and criminal action of the former Governor, Amaechi, describing it as shocking and embarrassing to the people of Rivers State, the political class as well as the APC.
Obuah notes that the massive looting of public facilities in the State, more of which is evident in the Government House, further exposes the greed, corrupt and unpatriotic disposition of former Governor Amaechi, which the PDP has over the years consistently complained about.
The PDP sees no justification for former Gov. Amaechi to be that wicked as to treat the people and a State that have fed him all his life the way he did, saying it considers the monumental looting of the Government House by Amaechi as unwarranted and least expected of a public officer of his status, and that adding to the numerous reckless actions and misguided utterances that he chooses and employs as his leadership tools, this action has made him unfit and undeserving of any further public office, so he does not desecrate such office.
The PDP lists the looted items to include, foreign furniture, (tables and chairs) Air Conditioners, window blinds, rugs, bullet proof doors, cars, electrical/electronic gadgets, Safes, Jacuzzis, room facilities and other domestic utensils, including fridges, freezers, televisions, beds and beddings.
It is therefore, our view as a responsible Party, considering the huge resources and inconveniencies that would cause the State to replace the looted items, in terms of fresh procurement or refurbishment of the broken items, to again urge President Buhari and other APC leaders to sanction the former Governor, ask him to return the loots and also charge him to apologize to Rivers people for the shameful act, which is responsible for the delay of Gov. Nyesom Wike to move into the Government House and the use of those public facilities by the new administration since after its inauguration on May 29.
The PDP expresses sadness that this ugly development would deprive Governor Nyesom Wike and officials of the new government use of the Government House for about three months when the place is expected to be re-equiped.
Considering whom he has proved to be, the PDP is not surprised at Amaechi’s action but the extent he went, as he had never minced words of his intention to cause breakdown of law and order and forestall the smooth swearing-in of the new administration in the State. The series of failed court cases filed in 5 States of the federation clearly attest to his desperate motive against the peace and development of the State. The PDP would therefore expect that the APC condemns this action, sanctions and orders him (Amaechi) to return the loots.
Signed:
Jerry Needam
Special Adviser on Media to
State PDP Chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah
