Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a very interesting person; so outspoken and in most cases, does not bother himself with who cares to listen to his blabbing.
He is careful in choosing topics for the right (or wrong) audience but sometimes his undoing is his forgetfulness.
He may easily forget what he had told that particular audience some other time. Since he became the chief executive of Rivers state, he has had numerous altercations with his kinsmen, the Ikwerre people of the state.
At early stages of his governorship, he severally denied his people for “sins” they allegedly committed against him while he was in limbo. That was in spite of the fact that several prominent Ikwerre sons and daughters had tirelessly worked for peace between himself and his cousin, Celestine Omehia. There was even his famous declaration that he was not an “Ikwerre governor”.
Consequently, notable Ikwerre leaders distanced themselves from his path and more are about doing so for what we may call his loquacious exuberance which sometimes could be damaging. But, when he becomes very much alive, he prides himself with his Ikwerre roots and would cling to that, like when he has his occasional fit of rage against his supposed “mother”, the First Lady. Then, he would recall that “madam was fighting him because he is Ikwerre”.
Barely two weeks ago he was at it again. He called on Ikwerre women to stand up and be counted; that they should fight for their rights and live up to their responsibilities. He spoke through Emmanuel Chinda, the commissioner for agriculture, who represented him at the inauguration of the executive committee of the Ikwerre Women Forum headed by Hon. (Mrs) Victoria Nyeche , a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
We shudder to think at this point in time : what offence has Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha committed against Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that has made him not to confirm her as the Chief Judge of Rivers state based on the recommendations of the National Judicial Council?
Is she not an Ikwerre woman like those he was prompting to rise up? Daisy is eminently qualified and she is the most senior judge in the state’s judiciary.
Amaechi now has an opportunity to reconcile himself with his kinsmen by confirming what the National Judicial Council started. This is the only way out.