PDP dismisses Amaechi’s lawsuit as diversionary

THE Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State on Wednesday described the claim by the immediate past state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, that he had sued the party as an attempt to divert attention from “shocking” revelations of the mismanagement of the state resources.

The state PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, said Amaechi should apologise to the people for allegedly running the state aground.


Amaechi had in a statement on Tuesday said he had sued the state PDP, its chairman and two others over allegations that he (Amaechi) embezzled $758m (N80bn) belonging to the state while in office.

The former governor recalled that the state PDP on August 6, and August 21, 2015, alleged that the said state funds were stashed away by him in an account in his name in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United States of America.

But reacting to the former governor’s claim, Obua, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jerry Needam, said the party would never be intimidated by anybody, including Amaechi on the matter.

The state PDP chairman also pointed out that the former chief executive of the state refused to appear before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to defend himself on the allegations against him.

“The litigation threat is diversionary in the light of shocking revelations, testimonies and discoveries of acts of lawlessness, fraudulent and injudicious spending of state resources by him (Amaechi) while in office being witnessed before the Commission of Inquiry into the Sale of Valued Assets of the State by his administration for which he was invited. But he refused to appear to defend himself.

“While not wishing to join issues with Amaechi until he makes real his boast by serving the processes of the said suit on the PDP and those he claimed he sued, the party would not be deterred by threats of litigation neither will it be intimidated by anybody, let alone Mr. Amaechi that should be apologizing to the Rivers people for running the state aground for eight years,” Obuah stressed.

He, however, maintained that the said lawsuit would offer the state PDP the opportunity to expose to the world the atrocities committed by the immediate past governor.

He said, “The intended lawsuit by Amaechi, if true, will offer the party the opportunity to expose to the whole world the atrocities committed by the former governor, for them to adjudge whether Amaechi is corrupt or a saint as he is hoodwinking those who do not know him very well to believe,” Obua added.