The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has narrated how the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi tried to truncate his political career.
According to him, “Midway into his (Amaechi’s) first tenure, I got the signal early enough that I have become a foe, and penciled down to be politically brought down, extinguished or terminated”.
Wike made the revelation, Saturday, during the first PAMO University of Medical Sciences, PUMS, convocation ceremony in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike explained that although his predecessor had reluctantly included his name among those he nominated to former President Goodluck Jonathan to be appointed as Minister, he was never his first or preferred choice.
” He, therefore, worked twice as hard behind the scene to truncate my confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, but failed because God said otherwise.
“Moving further forward and when he noticed my ambition to succeed him as Governor of Rivers State; he immediately drew the battle line and vowed that I could only succeed him over his dead body.
“Our contest was as intense and jugular as typical political enemies. Ultimately, I won and prevailed over him; but he acted the coward by refusing to commit the suicide he had promised if I became the Governor of Rivers State. Thank God, he chickened out and did not die”.
Governor Wike later announced a N500 million grant to PAMO University; a post graduate scholarship to the overall best graduating student, and N5million reward for each of the best departmental graduating students.
The highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees by the University on former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar and Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
General Abubakar was conferred with Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, while Governor Wike bagged honorary degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Causa.
General Abubakar, in his remarks, commended Governor Wike’s administration for offering scholarship to students of Rivers extraction studying in PAMO University.
He said the Governor’s unrivalled contribution to the development of the University would forever be in the annals of her history.
The former Head of State noted that the success of PAMO University was a demonstration of what could be achieved when State Governments come in to support the provision of private education in their respective States.
