The Rivers State Governor,
Rotimi Amaechi, said this in
Lagos during an event
organised to pay tribute to
Nelson Mandela.
In his words:
“If you see a thief and you allow
him to be stealing, what have
you done?
You have stoned nobody, that is
why we are stealing. Who have
you stoned?
They came out and started
dancing oil subsidy, oil subsidy.
They told you that they stole
N2.3trn, what did you do?
Instead you are protesting
‘bring more oil subsidy’; the oil
subsidy that is not reaching the
poor. A few individuals are
going away with the money and
you have done nothing.
You are mourning Madiba, who
lived up to 95, and he was very
angry with Nigeria when he
died. You’ve heard that $50bn is
missing and you have done
nothing about it.
In some countries people will go
on the street until they return
that money. It is N8trn, it can
change Nigeria. Me I want to
steal only $1bn, let them bring it.
You read Obasanjo’s letter and
you are asking why is he writing
the letter, is he a South-South
man? In fact, when he was there
what did he do? You, what have
you done?
If you don’t take your destiny in
your hands, we will go and
other leaders will come and
continue stealing.”