By Dapo Falade
Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that he is not aware of the series of crises rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), both at the national level and in Rivers State.
This was as the former state governor, cautioned his supporters and the people of Rivers State to steer clear of violence, noting that that was not the best way to resolve issues.
The Minister, in a statement from his media office on Tuesday, said he had resolved to adopt the siddon look approach and steer clear of politics, as it affected the APC at the national and state levels.
Speaking on the APC crises, he said, “What is happening in APC, I don’t know; what is happening in Rivers State, I don’t know. What I’ve done is to keep away from politics. Even if I’m bothered, it’ll be internally. There’s nobody there (in the party) who is a child; we’re all adults. I don’t want to get involved in the politics.
“Nigerians know me for being blunt and honest. Some see it as arrogance, some see it as being brash, whatever it is. What do I need to say that I have not said before? It’s internal dynamics of politics, it’s internal struggle.
“So, I have said it several times. When we fought in 2015, I said this country cannot continue the way it is going. I’m not helpless, but I’m doing what they call ‘siddon look.”
Amaechi, reacting to two viral videos attributed to his supporters in the state, with one group inciting violence and the other dissociating him from the claims of the first group, said the rule of law must be respected and upheld at all times, adding lawbreakers would end up in jail.
“I believe that no matter how angry you are, no matter how institutions are manipulated, a judge once said ‘I’m allowed to be wrong. That’s why you have the Court of Appeal; that’s why you have the Supreme Court.’
“So if you think that what the state judiciary is doing is wrong, then you go to the Court of Appeal, you go to the Supreme Court and ensure you exhaust the due process. No matter your frustration, you don’t have the right to take the law into your hands.
“I’m responding to those videos because they all said they are my supporters; those who made the comment and those who countered them. My message to everyone is to tell everybody who is supporting me to please remain calm and get out of violence.
“Never be part of violence because I will not defend anybody when you get violent. The law will take its course. Whatever is happening, if anything goes wrong in the High Court, you go to the Court of Appeal. If anything goes wrong in the Court of Appeal, you go to the Supreme Court.
“Don’t you ever take the law into your hands, just like my children would never do that. My kids and my brothers know that I’m not a man who will come out to subvert the law. So I will not come and help you. If you’re my brother or my son and you take the law into your hands.”
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