The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected an award from Governor Nyesom Wike, describing it as contradictory.
Mr Amaechi’s name had been included in the list of persons who have distinguished themselves in the service of Rivers State and who will be awarded during the state’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
However, Mr Amaechi, who is Mr Wike’s predecessor, said the move contradicts the position of the state government, which has not said anything good about him.
A statement by Mr Amaechi’s media office said he had been shown a publication by the Rivers State Government, indicating that his name was one of many others to be given awards by Governor Wike, but he not received any communication from the government.
“Be that as it may, we want to state categorically that whatever Wike claims to be giving to Amaechi is a poisoned chalice that has been unequivocally rejected by the minister,” the statement said.
Once allies, Mr Amaechi and Governor Wike had since fallen out and have been known more for their rivalry, which has seen them engage each other in a war of words that has lasted for years.
In the face of the rivalry and counter accusations, Mr Amaech said he could not accept the award for the governor and called on him to admit making false allegations against him, especially for claiming that the cash recovered by the EFCC from an Ikoyi flat was kept there by the minister.
“What is the basis or criteria for Wike to give an award/honour to a man he (Wike) has rashly attacked and called all sorts of unprintable names in the past two years?” the minister asked.
Mr Amaechi called on the governor to go to court to prove the claim that he (Amaechi) kept the funds recovered from the Ikoyi flat or apologise for the claim.
