Amaechi weeps, says punishment awaits murderers in Rivers

A former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has assured the people of the state that those involved in the killing of Rivers people on New Year Day will face the wrath of the law.


Amaechi gave the hint in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday, when he paid a condolence visit to the bereaved families.

The minister, who wept when addressing the people said, “The only thing I can assure you is that the perpetrators of this act will be brought to justice. They cannot run away from it. They can’t get away with this.

“I was at the hospital to see a little boy that was shot, and his father and mother killed. How do you want that little boy to live? How would he cope in life? They must pay for their actions.”

Meanwhile, the minister has again, accused the Nyesom Wike-led administration in Rivers State of failing to protect the lives of Rivers people.

He spoke in Isiokpo, same day, at a grand reception held in his honour by the Ikwerre Youth Movement.

A statement signed by the Media Office of the former governor quoted him as saying, “The first responsibility of a leader is to keep his subjects alive. The reason why the constitution puts every governor on oath, to swear that you will protect lives and property is because if there are no lives, there will be nobody to lead.

“If there is anybody on earth that said that I have met with him as a cultist to take lives, let him come forward. If there is anybody on earth that will tell you that I have sat with him in a meeting and we planned to go and kill people to win election, let the person come forward.

“Let me tell you why I will not do such; it is not because I’m afraid of anybody, it is because I’m afraid of God.

“I doubt that God was happy the day they killed 23 persons in Omoku. I doubt that God was happy the day they killed people in Omerelu or at Egbeda or at Andoni or at Ogbunabali or wherever.”

Earlier, the President-General of IYM, Sir Azubuike Nwanjoku, had said that the reception was organised to honour the Transportation minister, fondly called the Lion of the Niger Delta.

He said that Rivers State should be saved from crime and cultism and appealed to Amaechi to take their plea to President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that they want to live and work in peace in Rivers State.