The immediate past deputy governor of Rivers State, Tele Ikuru, has accused his former boss and state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, of maltreating him despite his contributions to the government.
Mr. Ikuru, who quit the ruling All Progressives Congress in Rivers State at the twilight of the administration, said Mr. Amaechi denied him parting gifts and money when the government finally came to a close in May.
He said this happened despite his contributions to the state, part of which was returning state funds and saving an estimated N100 billion for the state.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving Service at St. Simons Anglican Church, Ikuru-Town in Andoni Local Government Area, Sunday, Mr. Ikuru said the thanksgiving service was to thank God for his grace and faithfulness to him, his family, and friends during the eight years of service to the state.
“I served this government for seven years and seven months under Amaechi, because I was with Omehia for 5 months,” Mr. Ikuru said.
“At the end of the seven years and seven months Amaechi did not think that I deserved any parting gift in spite of the fact that in the course of this administration, by reason of the office I occupied, I returned several monies to him valued over two billion Naira cash at different times during one work or the other.”
In March, Mr. Ikuru stunned Mr. Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State when he defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party six days to the general elections.
Announcing his defection at the time, Mr. Ikuru had described the APC in the state as a party of rebels, insurgents, and anarchists clothed in robes of pretence and deceit.
“Ever since, as the true nature and motives of APC are unveiled, I have continued to twist and turn in extreme mental and emotional agony,” he had said.
“The more I struggle to belong, the more the Rivers man in me rejects the APC.”
On Sunday, Mr. Ikuru stated that his contribution to Mr. Amaechi’s administration saved Rivers State “not less than a hundred billion Naira” over the period.
“At the end of the seven years and seven months, my boss left me hard and dry, nothing and no penny to go home with,” he added.
Mr. Ikuru gave glory to God for all that happened, saying that he had never expected reward from man his entire life, rather he always looked up to God and that with the thanksgiving, he was sure that God will remember him.
In his address, Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Governor, described Mr. Ikuru as a wonderful servant to the state, pointing out that he finished very strong in view of his outstanding legacies.
Mr. Wike, who was represented by Kenneth Kobani, the Secretary to the State Government, noted that Mr. Ikuru’s track record singled him out to head the transition committee that ushered in the present government.
“His Excellency has asked me to join you in this thanksgiving service, and to say our brother Tele Ikuru had been a wonderful servant to Rivers State,” Mr. Kobani said.
“He served the state meritoriously and finished very strong. That is why at the time we needed someone to midwife the transition government, we did not have to look anywhere else, but to look at Tele Ikuru to lead us.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, lauded Mr. Ikuru for his humble and peaceful disposition which he noted stemmed from his upbringing from a humble family.
Earlier in his sermon, the Curate of the church, Reverend Silas Ikut, who spoke on the topic “Standing on the Existing Protocol”, urged everyone to follow God’s protocol which he noted had been established to bring about peace and good governance in the state.
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