The 2016 AMAA Annual Awards was hosted in Port Harcourt on Saturday the 11th June, 2016 at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre. The Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, like the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was built by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, now Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Transportation. These gigantic edifices have hosted both local and international events, including events organized by the present administration of Governor Nyesom Wike.
During the preludes to the actual awards, which is popularly referred to as "Red Carpet" session, Governor Wike had a marred interview session with a Staff of one of the National Televisions on ground to cover the event. The interviewer who was simply identified as Abudulahi had asked the Governor a tricky question which the Governor found rather unpleasant; he burst the bubble and walked away from the interviewer and the cameras.
According to an eyewitness, the interview session had gone on very cordially and smoothly until the interviewer stepped on a cobra's tail. Mr Abudulahi, the interviewer had "mischievously" drawn the attention of the Governor to the fact that the former Governor of the State, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi built the International Conference Centre, venue of the 2016 AMAA Awards and followed that up with another question that was intended to make the Governor double-speak on his previous position. According to the eyewitness the interviewer had the following encounter with the Governor. "Your Excellency, some of the informations we picked here today is that your predecessor Mr Amaechi built this magnificent edifice were this event is taking place, this is against your administration's position that he did nothing tangible in the state in the last eight years, Your Excellency, looking at this building here is it still convenient to insist that your predecessor did nothing in the State?"
According to the source, this line of questioning infuriated the Governor who responded almost spontaneously; "and so what? Are you stupid". The Governor then immediately walked away and his security aides pounced on the interviewer and the camera men to retrieve the earlier records, which they did eventually. It took the intervention of some of the leaders of the Governor's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were at the event to resolve the matter and keep it from media exclamation.
At the peak of the crisis between the Rivers State Government and Amaechi, his situation was made even more precarious following Amaechi's stance against commissioning of projects. In his view, there was no reason or need for citizens to gather to "dance and praise a Governor for carrying out his statutory duty". Unfortunately, this became his albatross as most persons outside the state believed the new narratives by the new administration in the State, which was completely different from the notion and perception of the local population of the State, who insist that apart from Diete-Spiff, Amaechi made the greatest achievements in the State as a Governor.
You will recall that Governor Wike's administration had made several allegations of wrongdoings against his former boss and predecessor Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, who they had accused of "doing nothing" in the eight years of his administration as Governor. Governor Wike was the Chief of Staff to Rt. Hon. Amaechi in the latter's first term as Governor of Rivers State and in the latter's second term, the former was recommended by Amaechi for appointment as a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria under the administration of the former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The relationship between the duo was said to have broken down irretrievably when Amaechi declined his consent for Governor Wike to succeed him on account that both of them were from same segment of the state. The duo have remained at daggers-draw since then.
Nador Nwibari , National Networth, Port Harcourt
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