The Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday alleged that the state’s Brigade Commander, Navy Commander, Air Force Commander and Commissioner of Police report to Dame Pateince, the wife of the President Goodluck Jonathan.
Amaechi said his disagreement with President Jonathan was thus fueled in part by the disposition of Dame Jonathan.
Ameachi, who made this known after the premiere of a documentary on the “Amaechi Years” at the Silver Bird Galleria, Abuja, also disclosed that he spent N105 billion constructing federal roads.
According to him, Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party would have taken him to the cleaners if they had anything incriminating against him.
Amaechi said: “We had a disagreement in principle between me and the President.
“Have you seen a country where the Commissioner of Police is reporting to the wife of the President?
“It’s in Rivers State.
“Have you seen a country where the Brigade Commander or the Navy Commander or Air Force Commander is reporting to the wife of the President?
“It’s in Rivers State.”
Amaechi explained that he was convinced that such conduct would not help in the development of any nation and this explained why he took a stand against it.
Amaechi stressed that Nigeria must never again go back to such dark days, stressing that public officers should learn to lead by example so as to avoid abuse of office by their spouses.
He pointed out that it was Jonathan who was elected and not his wife.
Amaechi said in his own case, he ensured that his wife knew her limits and he always told her she had no right to call any of his commissioners for anything because the people voted him into office as governor and not her.
Amaechi challenged anyone who had doubts about his performance in office to go to the state to see things for himself or herself.
He said all he did in the state were not for self-glorification but to bequeath a legacy for successive administrations to sustain.
The governor added that 90 per cent of the people who worked with him betrayed him.
He further showcased his achievements, spanning all sectors of the state.
He wondered why the Federal Government was desperate about casting his administration in bad light even when he spent N105 billion on federal roads.
Amaechi pointed out that he kept a proper account of his stewardship and the books were open for all to see.
This, he said, gave him the courage to sustain the struggle, expressing joy that history would vindicate him in the end.
In the documentary, which featured some of his projects in the areas of security, works, agriculture, education, transportation, health and social development, Amaechi said the documentary left out some projects he would love to see documented.
Senator Magnus Abbe, who also featured in the documentary, explained how Amaechi pioneered the amnesty programmes through which unparalleled insecurity in the state was drastically reduced.
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