Amaechi, former deputy in war of words

Former  governor of  Rivers State,  Chibuike  Rotimi  Amaechi,  has  described as untrue,  the  claim  by  his  deputy, Mr. Tele Ikuru, that he (Ikuru) returned  billions of naira to him   and  the state government.

Ikuru,  had  during  a thanksgiving service at  the weekend ,  claimed that he returned over N2 billion cash,  to  Amaechi and additionally, saved  his administration not less than N100 billion.

Ikuru further expressed disappointment that, in spite of all his contributions, his former boss did not give him any parting gift and left him hard and dry, “nothing and no penny to go home with.”

Ikuru’s words: “By reason of my contribution to this government, I also saved this government not less than N100 billion over the period. At the end of the seven years and seven months, my boss left me hard and dry, nothing and no penny to go home with,” he added.

“I served this government for seven years and seven months under Amaechi, because I was with Omehia for five months. At the end of the seven years and seven months, Amaechi did not think that I deserved any parting gift in spite of the fact that in the course of this administration, by reason of the office I occupied, I returned several monies to him valued at over N2 billion cash during one work or the other.”

But, in a swift  reaction, Amaechi  denied  that Ikuru returned money to him.

Amaechi,  through  a press statement  issued  in Port  Harcourt  yesterday  by his media aide, Mr. David Iyofor said: “Tele is lying. He did not return any money to me. And I am not aware that he returned any money to the coffers of the state government.

“My former deputy’s ill-advised comments against me are indeed, shameful and pitiable. His attack on me and his disgusting lamentation about parting gifts only  confirms what I have always known and said about those on the other side of the political divide in Rivers State (where my former deputy now belongs).

– that all they want is to share the resources and commonwealth of Rivers people among themselves. This is why they fought me and are still fighting me.

“It’s most unfortunate that Tele, whom I kept as my deputy, in spite of the strong opposition against him, almost everyone was against him but I retained him and even ran with him for a second term, against the advice of most of my political associates, would now attempt to hideously disparage and attack me.”