Rotimi Amaechi
The ministerial nomination of former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi has sparked off controversy in the Senate.
The former governor, who was also Director General, Buhari Campaign Organisation, was one of the 21 ministerial nominees unveiled on Tuesday, October 6, by Senate President Bukola Saraki.
However, three senators from Rivers State, namely George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East), Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South-East) and Osinakachukwu Ideazu (Rivers West) – submitted an 88-page petition to the Senate against the nomination and confirmation of Amaechi as minister.
The petition, written by a Non-Governmental Organisation, “The Integrity Group”, based in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was submitted to the Senate by Sekibo on behalf of the other senators.
Entitled, “Petition against ministerial nominee: Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi: Demand to withdraw and reject his nomination and appointment on the ground of corruption, criminal breach of trust, unlawful enrichment and conversion of over N70 billion Rivers peoples’ monies by the former governor of Rivers State. Sekibo said it has endorsed one Livingstone Wechie on behalf of the group and thousands of others.
The submission of the petition prompted a protest in the chamber mostly by All Progressives Congress (APC) senators who were against it.