Director General of the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Council and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi and Rivers State Government, yesterday, traded words over the establishment of Neighbourhood Watch in the state.
Speaking in Abuja, Amaechi said Wike’s ambition to be re-elected has caused many problems and accused Wike of establishing a paramilitary organisation, without collaborating with the military, to fight crime and bring about lasting peace in the state.
“The governor established Neighbourhood Watch. Which law in Nigeria empowers a governor to establish a paramilitary organisation?
“None, if you ask me. It’s just about one man’s ambition; who wants to be governor and his people being killed ceaselessly,” he said.
Amaechi thanked Nigerians for re-electing President Muhammadu Buhari, and gave assurances that the president would perform better in his second term.
Regardless, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, said the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency is a creation of the law.
“It was fashioned alongside the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency, which is still functional. It is an agency established to support security agencies with credible intelligence to fight crime.
“There are Neighbourhood security organisations in Anambra, Kogi, Nasarawa, Edo, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano states.
“It is embarrassing that Amaechi worked with the security agencies to frustrate the setting up of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency. This shows that Amaechi is simply anti-Rivers,” he said.
The state government demanded Amaechi’s arrest over the crisis in the state; during the presidential and National Assembly elections.