Few Days To Elections In Rivers: Amaechi’s Abandoned Property Issue raises dust

Few Days To Elections In Rivers: Amaechi’s Abandoned Property Issue raises dust
● Dagogo-Jack, Ijuye Dagogo, David Alabere, attack Amaechi over comments
● Wike says Amaechi plans to cause trouble between Igbos and Rivers people;
● Debunks claim that Amaechi’s scholarship scheme was stopped because of Igbo beneficiaries;
● Igbos assure Rivers people of their full support for Siminalayi Fubara despite Amaechi’s outburst

By PHC Telegraph

Former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi,  has come under intense  attack from Rivers people for trying to generate bad blood between Rivers people and their Igbo neighbours a few days to go to the last round of general elections in the State.

The Telegraph which has been gathering reactions in the field since Amaechi shocked the nation learnt at the weekend that across Rivers and Bayelsa boundaries more and more reactions expressing serious displeasure over Amaechi’s disastrous remarks.

Out of the blues, Amaechi had raked up the Abandoned Property issue while asking for Igbo support for Tonye Cole,  the APC gubernatorial candidate.

Amaechi’s comment, suggesting Rivers State would pay compensation to Igbos if Tonye Cole wins the governorship is coming more than 50 years after the matter was settled.

Recall that an edict signed by Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff,  first Military Governor of Rivers State was promulgated after the David Mark Committee which had the backing of the Federal Government finished its work.

Now, that matter relating to the issue of Abandoned Property in the Old Rivers State, neatly tucked away in the hallways of history, has been exumed by Amaechi.

“Igbo blood runs in my veins”, Amaechi exclaimed while addressing a gathering of Igbos who have become beautiful brides across the nation.

According to him, “I am sorry for the issue of Abandoned Properties. I have apologised to you when I became governor  and I am still apologising.

“We are sorry. In the North, the Igbo who returned after war were given back their properties, but here our people seized them and called them Abandoned properties.

“Anything you have lost in this State through violence, whether House or properties, please write your name and phone number and give to us. We will give them back to you.”

Obviously,  Amaechi was making a commitment on behalf of Cole, his preferred candidate in next Saturday’s election.

How much will be paid back as compensation by a Cole Government for abandoned property matters involving Rivers State? How much of this compensation if Cole agrees to pay will be paid by the Bayelsa State Government whose people benefitted from the abandoned property issue?

What will befall Rivers and Bayelsa people who became landlords after the Nigeria- Biafra Civil War if the properties that they bought are to be taken from them?

Anger, disappointment over Amaechi’s distasteful comments 50 years after:

In Rivers State as well as Bayelsa which was part of the State when the Abandoned Property issue was laid to rest, there were sharp reactions as anger welled.

We have learnt that elders of Rivers and Bayelsa States have been meeting to review Amaechi’s remark.

Within Rivers State, many are wondering how far Amaechi would go in order to secure victory for himself and Tonye Cole.

 

Engineer Bekinbo Dagogo, a former SA to President Goodluck Jonathan and a two-time Commissioner in Rivers State expressed shock when approached by the Port Harcourt Telegraph.

“I read various news reports of Rotimi Amaechi whilst campaigning  for Tonye Cole of the APC, apologising to Igbo residents in the State over the more than 5o years old Abandoned Property issue and promising that the APC administration will redress the injustice when elected.

“If accurately reported, I find this as an abysmal new low in political chicanery and empty gamesmanship.

“The question to ask is what did Amaechi do about this matter in his 16 unbroken years of topmost political leadership in the State, first as the No 3 citizen  and later as the No.1 of the State. Absolutely nothing!”

Governor Nyesom Wike who spoke with leaders  of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo in Port Harcourt  shared the same sentiment.

Wike said Amaechi was fanning the ember of disunity, distrust and violence in order to disrupt the prevailing cordial relationship and peace between Rivers people and their Igbo neighbours.

Governor Wike wondered why Amaechi did not implement such compensation when he served as governor for eight years if he loves the Igbos that much.

“I don’t know how to describe it” Sotonye Ijuye Dagogo,  Spokesman of the Dumo Lulu Briggs Campaign Organization told the Telegraph, “It is a shame that a man like Amaechi would be so insensitive.

“His statement was totally reckless and uncalled for.  I am not sure Amaechi was born when this matter, the Abandoned Property issue was resolved.

“All this (abandonedproperty talk), just to score cheap political points and secure Igbo votes? Did he (Amaechi) not think how this attempt to reopen old wounds in the name of Abandoned Property will play out between Rivers people and Igbo people?”

David D. Anabere a.k.a Ariski Manilla, a popular Okrika politician remarked, “De head of anybodi wey dey tok about Abandoned Property no correct na. Make pipu no mind am.”

Tony Okocha, former Chief of  Staff said his former boss spoke like someone who has lost his senses.

Okocha who appeared on a popular radio station in Port Harcourt lampooned Amaechi, describing him as a desperate and confused person.

Omenazu Jackson however expressed sympathy for Amaechi’s position, saying it doesn’t matter when the former Governor decided it is time to deal with a 50-year.

He said he would like to be quoted as saying that “the government controlled by the North” was responsible for the issue of Abandoned Property in Rivers State.

He noted that given the fact that Amaechi has raised the matter, he should take the extra step to get a lawmaker at the national level to place the issue properly on the floor of Parliament in Abuja.

Chief Allwell Onyesoh, Senator-elect for the Rivers East Senatorial District fumed when the discussion touched on the abandoned property issue.

He said Amaechi was wrong to have uttered those words, saying he would come forth with a fuller statement.

Engineer Bekinbo Dagogo Jack noted that non indigenes, including Igbos were concerned about is the emergence of a government that would create an environment for their business to strive.

He observed that Amaechi has done more harm than good to the aspiration of Tonye Cole, the APC gubernatorial candidate, noting that Amaechi had no reason to rake up old wounds in pursuit of a political interest.

Governor Nyesom Wike while speaking with leaders of Ohaneze in the Rivers capital,  Port Harcourt, said Amaechi was fanning the ember of disunity, distrust and violence.

He pointed out the plan was to disrupt the prevailing cordial relationship and peace between Rivers people and their Igbo neighbours.

Wike condemned Amaechi for lying that the foreign scholarship introduced by his administration was discontinued because Igbos were beneficiaries.

Governor Wike said if that was true, what would he say about Rivers beneficiaries?

He insisted that the scholarship scheme was discontinued because of the exchange rate of the dollar and the quantum of none specialised courses like philosophy, English, Law and arts students that were sponsored to study abroad.

Governor Wike emphasised that while those students were withdrawn, his administration has sustained full  scholarship to students studying medical and allied profession at the Rivers State University and PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

In his speech, Deputy National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Worldwide, Dr. Peter Anele said Igbos have long sought to produce the president of Nigeria and they saw the last presidential election as an opportunity to clinch it.

He acknowledged that governor Wike has done the Igbos proud.

Anele said Wike has remained a voice against social injustice as well as the marginalisation of Igbos.

The Igbo leader said the Rivers Governor had created a conducive business climate for them and appointed one of their own into his cabinet

On his part, the president of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Rivers State, Lucky Ekeji said Igbos are not at war with the Rivers State government and assured that as a group, they have urged all Igbos in the State to support the governorship bid of Sir Siminialayi Fubara.