Amaechi not corrupt, commission was set up to rubbish him – Tony Okocha

Former Chief of Staff to ex governor Chibuike Amaechi has reiterated his position that the Rivers probe panel was essentially set up to rubbish the former governor so that he would not be appointed a minister by President Muhamadu Buhari.

Okocha who spoke against the backdrop of the white paper released by the government two after days after the Chairman of the panel, Justice George Omereji submitted his recommendations said the timing of the whole exercise confirmed his view that rubbishing the former governor before President Buhari was the target.

Insisting that the former governor was incorrupt Okocha said Justice Omereji was consciously chosen to head the panel because they allegedly knew he would never be neutral on matters of the former governor before him.

“We have been talking that the essence of the commission was to stop Rotimi Amaechi from participating in the government of President Muhamadu Buhari.

And a lot of people does not seem to understand what we have been saying

When that commission was set up we raised objection.

Nobody erects a house and make your enemy your night guard . We said Justice Omereji will never ever be neutral the way he ought to be.

Even before the committee took off he had already indicted Amaechi with the statements he made.

Now it is clear two days after a report was purportedly submitted a white paper is already ready.

What is it about. The reason is this man (Amaechi) has been nominated to be Minister now they want to use the white paper to tell Nigerians that he is a corrupt person.

When you beat drum for an innocent man the gods will not let it sound “, he said.

According to Okocha the former governor had no personal house in the country other than the one built for him by the state government and the two rooms given to him by his late father in his father’s house in his Ubima village, Ikwerre local government area,

“As Amaechi’s Chief of Staff at a time if Amaechi had properties anywhere Nyesom Wike should have known because as his Chief of Staff he was very close to the former governor.

You have not been able to pin any property to this man yet you still say he is corrupt.

Amaechi has no house, not even in his village. All he has is the two room the father gave to him inside his compound in the village.

Then this one the state government decided to build for him, off course it is backed by law. Should we cite Wike’s property. “, he said.

Meantime, Justice Omereji in a chat with the Vanguard on the day the commission was inaugurated at the state judiciary complex had dismissed allegations that he will not be fair to those that will appear before the commission, adding that he had no issues with the former governor.

He also urged the former governor then to appear before the commission to give reasons why he should not Chair the commission, saying as a judge he was not trained to respond to allegations on the pages of newspapers.

BY: Jimitota Onoyume