Rivers state elders berate Amaechi for his conduct during Osinbajo's visit

Some elders in Rivers state have berated the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi over his recent action in the state

- The elders are under the aegis of Rivers Elders Consultative Council

- They condemned the minister for what they say are his ‘’divisive tendencies’’

Some elders in Rivers state under the aegis of Rivers Elders Consultative Council have condemned the minister of transport, Chubuike Amaechi for what they say are his ‘’divisive tendencies.’’

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo exchanging pleasantries with the elders of Rivers state on Tuesday, February 14 at the Port Harcourt International Airport. Photo credit: Thisday

The elders were reacting to a meeting of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state organised by Amaechi during the visit of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, February 14.

In a statement signed by the executive secretary of the council, Chief Granville Abiye Georgewill, the elders expressed dismay that the acting president could be deceived to attending an APC function arranged by Amaechi.

”Even though party slogans were chanted at the meeting, there are two things Amaechi would have set out to achieved.

"It may be that he wanted the acting president to have an impression that there exists an APC in the state and therefore paid all sorts of persons, some were made to dress in chieftaincy regalia when they are not, just to make the crowd appreciable to the visiting acting president.

“The other reason may be that Amaechi intended to clear the shame he would have received at the airport when he did not receive the courtesies he perhaps expected from the people of the state,” part of the the statement read.

The council opined that it was disrespectful to the government and people of Rivers state for Amaechi to organise another so-called stakeholders’ meeting 24 hours after a properly attended reception, stakeholders’ meeting and banquet was organised by the government in honour of the visiting acting president.

They warned that they would not tolerate any person or group of persons attempting to cause disaffection, division and hatred and called for unity of purpose, cooperation and understanding so as to advance the cause of development in Rivers state.Governor Wike had earlier condemned the action of the minister, accusing him of playing anti-Rivers politics.