Former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has attributed the inability of former President Goodluck Jonathan and incumbent Governor of the state, Chief Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike to remove him from office before the expiration of his tenure, to prayers from Christians.

Amaechi, who disclosed this at the weekend while speaking at the dedication service of Saint

Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Elechi Beach, Port Harcourt, said Jonathan, Wike and the wife of the former President, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, wanted to remove him from office before May 29, 2015.

The dedication service was attended by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress

(APC) in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and former Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon Tony Okocha, among others.

The former governor said, “I want to thank the priests, almost all of you were praying for me. If not for your prayers, I would probably have been a former governor a long time ago. The president wanted me out at all cost; the present governor wanted me out at all cost and the wife of the president wanted me out at all cost. They did everything they did. Let me say one thing; they had everything except God.

“When I landed at the airport, I saw soldiers but I said I did not need them. When they were in power, they were using soldiers to chase us about. In the present government, that will not continue. You don’t solve impunity; if they had impunity before, we will have rule of law now. I thank all of you publicly for the support and prayers.”

Rivers Probe Panel Not Illegal –Wike

Meanwhile, Wike has said the state Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the sale of valued assets of the state during the administration of Amaechi, is not illegal.

Governor Wike disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt, through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, while reacting to claims by Amaechi that setting up of the Justice George Omereji-led probe commission is illegal.