AMAECHI’S KINSMEN THREATEN LIVINGSTONE WECHIE, INTEGRITY GROUP WITH LIBEL

LEADERS and youths in Ikwerre-speaking areas of Rivers State threatened to sue a non-governmental organisation known as the Integrity Group over an alleged attempt to malign their son and the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

 

The leaders and youths, who are from four local government areas of the state, warned that it would institute a N2bn libel suit against Integrity Group for publishing an alleged defamatory statement on Amaechi in the media.

It will be recalled that the group had accused the immediate past governor of involvement in corrupt practices, an allegation the All Progressives Congress and the the former governor’s aides had faulted.

But leaders from Obio/Akpor, Emohua, Ikwerre and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas under the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, gave the Integrity Group and its sponsors a seven-day ultimatum to present evidence to back their allegations of fraud against Amaechi or be ready to face litigation.

Mr. Lucky Worluh, who spoke on behalf of the four Ikwerre-speaking local government areas in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, explained that the decision to sue the group was to show that Amaechi was innocent.

Worluh, who was one of the council chairmen removed by the court, said, “Nothing will stop us from dragging the NGO and its paymaster to court if it fails to back the libellous publication against Amaechi with evidence.

“We do not only condemn the unholy allegations against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, but we also challenge the leader of the unregistered NGO, Mr. Livingstone Nwechie, his paymaster and sponsors to make public all relevant documents relating to the allegation within seven days from this publication.”

Worluh said leaders and elders of the four Ikwerre speaking Local government areas and the leaders of APC in the area were in support of their action to defend their son (Amaechi) who had brought honour and development to Ikwerre land.

According to him, “The PDP and their leaders in the state are only interested on how to bring Amaechi down. With his (Amaechi) rising profile in Nigeria, especially for leading a common sense and armless revolution that ousted Goodluck Jonathan from office, one should expect more hatred from PDP against Amaechi.”

Speaking on behalf of Ikwerre youths, the National President of Ikwerre Youth Movement, Mr. Azubuike Wanjoku, pointed out that Ikwerre sons and daughters would not allow a publication that blackmailed and insulted Amaechi to stand.

“We wish to state categorically that Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, Rivers State, Niger Deltans and Nigerians are indebted to Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to have offered his life to lead a common sense revolution against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We demand those genuine documents to back the libellous publication against Amaechi and after the expiration of the ultimatum and nothing is done, IYM will drag both the NGO and the sponsors to court.”