The Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State has described the recent derogatory remarks made by the state governor Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi against the respected OBA of Ogbaland His Eminence Dr Chukwumela Nnam Obi II as the product of a demented brain and diseased imagination.
Reacting to the comments made by the monarch when the supervising Minister for Education Chief Nyesom Wike and his team visited the Oba in his palace at Omoku, Governor Amaechi who spoke through his Chief of Staff Mr Tony Okocha described the Oba as lacking in integrity and reckoning. The Monarch had merely advised Amaechi to stay focused in administering the state and spare some respect for the President of Nigeria to avoid overheating the polity and also to preserve the unity of Nigeria.
The PDP notes that it is shameful for Amaechi to belittle the Oba of Ogbaland who is not only well respected in Nigeria but has held very eminent public offices even when Amaechi was still an infant. Apart from being on the throne for nearly 50 years, the Oba was the 1st Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Federal University of Technology, Owerri. He was also the Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Akure and thereafter was again appointed Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri. He was the Convener of the old Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and has chaired the Council twice. He is the Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of journalists, Rivers State Council and a highly esteemed custodian of the culture and tradition of the Ogba people.
“This is the kind of man that Amaechi would describe in very insulting and irresponsible terms”, the party said.
The party in a statement signed by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser, Media to the State Chairman, regretted that it is in the character of Amaechi and his aides to insult elders the Clergy and traditional rulers who innocently offer advise on how to govern the state better.
How else can we describe a man who has lost integrity if Amaechi is not one? He has lost focus, relevance and followership and should be ignored as he no longer has anything good to offer to the people of the state, the statement added.
“Amaechi is demented, as otherwise, he would not disrespect and insult a Monarch who is a major stakeholder in the governance of the state. It is also regrettable that he does not know the implication of such action; otherwise, he would have known that by insulting the Monarch, he has disrespected the highest traditional stool in Ogbaland, the entire people of Ogbaland and the Rivers State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists as well as the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers”, he said.
We regret whatever is responsible for such rude, unnatural and irresponsible attitude of Governor Amaechi but believe that even in such condition, some persons still exhibit restraint and respect for authorities and personalities.
Clearly, the Oba’s comment during the Minister of State for Education and his team’s visit was patriotic and honourable. It is however disappointing that the Governor, out of a hostile mindset and lack of respect for elders, reacted childishly and unwisely. It is our worry that the governor has showed bitterness and hatred against the President and the Monarch merely called for respect for the President in that occasion.
The party therefore believes that the Governor’s psyche needs some serious attention than he is presently given, in order to save our state from a psychopath condition and our institutions from his onslaught and irresponsible governance.
