Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, stood out last week as the person in the news in the oil-rich state. Before she was honoured by the kinsmen of former Governor Peter Odili, an obviously “untutored” police corporal who was escorting some expatriate oil workers had wanted her dead.
An eye-witness told LEADERSHIP that the governor’s wife was heading for an official event when the escort that attempted to overtake her convoy at the Elekahia axis of Port Harcourt, the state capital, crashed into her car. A police inspector who saw what happened said the incident would have turned bloody if the soldiers who were part of Mrs. Amaechi’s convoy had opened fire on policemen perceived to be a threat to the life of the governor’s wife. Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) who were on Mrs. Amaechi’s convoy was said to have challenged the police corporal leading the expatriate oil workers escort but the corporal who was said to show no sign of remorse for what he has done, allegedly queried the SSS operatives: ‘’Is Amaechi’s wife bigger than Babangida? Nobody is above the law.’’
The obviously angry Governor Amaechi, was quoted by some superior police officers in Port Harcourt, as viewing the incident as attempted assassination on his wife. But the police in the state are battling to conceal the incident. Spokesman for the Police Command, Mr. Ben Ugwuebulem, a Deputy Superintend of Police (DSP) told LEADERSHIP that he was not aware of the incident.
The incident however, involved men of the Swift Operation Squad (SOS), a special security outfit that is responsible for the internal security challenges of the state. The bulk of their logistics support comes from the Rivers State government.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Amaechi who cancelled the Tuesday engagement has embarked on a four – day Christmas felicitation visit to the 23 area councils to presents gift and food items to the less- privileged and women in the state.
Day before the incident, she? visited Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba Egbema Ndoni and Abuah Odua local government areas of Rivers State. Other local government areas visited include Bonny, Akuku Toru, Asari, Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Phalga.
She warned against diverting the gift items meant for people who desire them and cannot afford to enjoy Christmas due to financial difficulty.
The Rivers State First Lady said, “Please I am not here for people who can afford to cater for themselves and their families; I am here to present these gifts and food items to those who urgently need them and cannot afford them, I beg you: the privileged ones should not appropriate these items for their selfish goal.”
She added that her husband was touched by the plight of women and less privileged within the rural areas and decided to touch their lives with these material gifts. Mrs. Amaechi used the event to appreciate Rivers women for re-electing her husband during the last general elections and promised that he would not abuse the confidence repose in him by the people.
“During the electioneering campaign, I gathered you here and asked for your votes and you answered me; today I am here to say thank you and to share with you the love of Christmas”, she added.
“The welfare of the less privileged is the responsibility of all and must be considered in the scheme of things.”
Governor Amaechi’s wife who was accompanied to the event by the wife of the deputy governor, Dr. Mina lkuru and wife of the State Speaker, Mrs. Gilda Otelema Dan Amachree said that the government would continue to have women as worthy partners and provide sustainable empowerment for their families.
“The government is providing infrastructure in schools, roads, healthcare, agriculture and scholarship to our children, who are enjoying tuition free education at all levels and studying abroad; I assure you that he will never let you down”.
Obviously impressed by her good gesture, the Ndoni community, Odili’s kinsmen in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, conferred on her the title of Ogolikalia. The title means, “A woman above other women.”
Mrs Amaechi was invested at the Palace of the Eze of Ndoni in council.
In her acceptance speech, she stated that government requires communal peace to enable it fast track development in the area and appealed to the Ndoni people to intercede for the government in their prayers in its effort to improve the well-being of the peoples.