How Amaechi’s Confirmation Approved Corruption - PDP
Following last week’s confirmation of the former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as minister-to-be, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state has lashed out on the role the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Senate and the presidency played during the process.
The party in statement by the Rivers state chairman, Felix Obuah, said that the political intrigues which surrounded the screening of the former state and his eventual confirmation for appointment as a minister by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-dominated Senate is an official endorsement of corruption and gross abuse of democracy.
In the statement signed by chairman’s special adviser on media and publicity, Jerry Needam, said that for throwing the most revered rules of the Senate and the sanctity of the laws of the land to the winds for the singular reason of compensating an indicted party member does not only amount to fait accompli but also exposes the hypocrisy of the APC-led federal government that anchored its campaign slogan on anti-corruption crusade.
Obuah said that the party was appalled at Amaechi’s confirmation at the Senate as a minister despite the monumental allegations of fraud, looting of state treasury and unprecedented abuse of trust while he held sway as governor of the state for eight ‘wasted’ years, as contained in the Justice George Omereji led – Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the state government white paper which indicted Amaechi.
In the statement expressed surprise that the APC senators could descend so low as to fling away the report of the ethics and privileges committee just to have their way without minding the feelings of the people they are representing, adding that that amounted to formal approval of corruption.
He however commended the courage of the PDP senators for staging a walk-out, which he said was a historic statement that they were not and could not be part of the institutionalisation of corruption in Nigeria and the legalisation of criminality and sacrifice of integrity on the altar of loyalty.
Obuah said: “Amaechi is only representing the interests of his benefactors and definitely not Rivers people as the state prefers to suffer persecution for standing on the side of truth and what is right to being eulogised and pampered as a chief servant in a slave house.
“While we look to the end of the APC-led federal government which has started on precarious feet of falsehood and deceit, we can only say that the end can never contradict its means which in this case, is suspect.
“Our regret is the APC’s disservice and disappointment to the entire Nigerians whose hope of getting a better alternative government from the Buhari administration and 8th Senate has been dashed.
“It’s an illusion to think that Amaechi and his like as ministers would perform anything different from what they did while they served in all other capacities.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce representing Bayelsa East in the National Assembly has advised President Muhammadu Buhari and first-term governors to stop blaming their predecessors in office for the misfortunes of Nigeria.
