Ateke Calls For Amaechi's Exit over Jet Row

Ateke Calls For Amaechi's Exit over Jet Row

FORMER Niger Delta freedom fighter, Chief Ateke Tom, has called on Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State in Southern Nigeria, to quit his office.

He also lashed out at the embattled governor, saying he has to explain to the Rivers people what he did with the N7.00 billion approved for him to acquire a jet for the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan, and Governor Amaechi are locked in a personality confrontation over the coming 2015 presidential race. While Jonathan is keeping mute on his widely speculated re-election bid, Amaechi is said to be bracing to run as a running mate to Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State in the largely uncertain election.
 
Both Jonathan and Amaechi are from the country's oil and gas belt - the Niger Delta - and that makes the conflict between the two messy.
 
However, Ateke who spoke via a satellite phone with our reporter on Wednesday, said Amaechi had severally in the past labelled him as a ''criminal'' for fighting for greater share of their own God-given resources and political participation for which Amaechi is a beneficiary . According to him, ''the facts on the ground at the moment tend to cast the governor as a bigger criminal''.

''There are a lot of questions begging for answers from Amaechi. Firstly, how come a jet that was bought with Rivers money was registered in a foreign company's name? Was the twisted registration part of a grand plan to take over the jet after May 29, 2015?

''The jetgate scandal  may just be a tip of the iceberg for what may well be a festering net of graft in Rivers. The white man says those who live in glass houses do not throw stones, and yet Governor Amaechi has been throwing stones at President Goodluck Jonathan, and his administration's transformation agenda from his glass house. The way things are, the moral burden on the governor is for him to throw in the towel for failing Rivers people'', he said.

Ateke said the governor should be held responsible for any break down of law and order in the state, alleging that his administration is busy mobilising citizens to embark on solidarity march with him.

But Port Harcourt has been firing at Abuja, alleging that they were out to create chaos in the state with an intent for a state of emergency.

For Ateke, ''i think Amaechi's hostile attitude to President Goodluck Jonathan's administration is responsible for his unfolding predicament. He has been carrying himself all over the place as a saint. Thank God for this jetgate scandal that has exposed the underbelly of the governor''.

ENDS

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