Amaechi: 5 Political Battles That Made Him Popular

Rotimi Amaechi

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is the 5th and incumbent Governor of Rivers State since 2007. He was re-elected for a second term on 26 April 2011. Naij goes down history lane to provide details about the controversies that the University of Port-Harcourt graduate has been involved in the last one year:

1. Fight with President Goodluck Jonathan

Chibuike Amaechi opened a line of battle with President Goodluck Jonathan during the second retreat of the Nigeria Governors Forum, when he accused the Federal Government of allegedly masterminding the disappearance of $5Billion dollars from the Exccess Crude Account.

He noted that Rivers state suffered neglect under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Another issue that came up was the transfer of 13 oil wells belonging to Rivers state to Bayelsa state, the home state of the president. Jonathan was embarrased when Amaechi lead top Rivers chiefs to protest the transference of oil wells.

2. Fight with Patience Jonathan

Both the Governor and the First Lady are indigenes of Rivers State, but they have never seen eye to eye after their widely publicized public spats following Amaechi’s demolition of water front structures in Okirika-the town of the First Lady. He accused the wife of the president of trying to macro-manage governance in Rivers State.

3. Fight with Governor-elect Rivers state, Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike served as the chief of staff to Amaechi from 2003-2007. He was there after nominated as a ministerial nominee from Rivers state. Having gotten to the presidency, Wike aligned with Jonathan and his cohorts to engage Amaechi in a political battle.

Amaechi publicly accused the Governor-elect of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike of being responsible for the deaths recorded in the state during the 2015 general elections.

4. Defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC)

Amaechi was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 27 November 2013 alongside 4 other governors. The reasons he gave for joining APC was because of the constant harassment he claimed he was subjected by the Federal government and also order to protect the people of his state.

5. Face of APC in Niger Delta

Amaechi is like the last man standing in APC in the region. Even when other notable leaders of the region decided to pitch their tent with PDP. Amaechi was branded a betrayer for not supporting his kinsman, Goodluck Jonathan in his quest to be re-elected as Nigeria’s no1 citizen.

The premiere of a documentary on the Amaechi years was recently premiered at the Silverbird galleria in Abuja. The documentary covering Amaechi’s years in office, featured his projects in the areas of security, agriculture, education, transportation, health and social development.