27th June, 2019
Former Minister of Transport Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has raised an alarm over plot to smear his image.
A statement from his Media office stated: “As we write this, we are aware that attempts are being made to peddle all sorts of fictitious, misleading and outrightly concocted stories, distorted and manipulated documents that would smudge the image and cast aspersions on the character, integrity and high morals of Amaechi, an astute and accomplished public servant.
”The deceitful plot and plan of the planners and executors of this ominously funded campaign are to tarnish the towering status; and do as much damage as possible to the character and reputation of Amaechi in the hearts, minds, and eyes of members of the public, using both traditional and online (social) media.
”One aspect of the reprehensible conspiracy is to unscrupulously drag the name of Amaechi and a member of his immediate family into the internal affairs and operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in a manner and way that is designed and intended to bring disrepute and opprobrium to his character and reputation. Besides this, there are other aspects and dimensions to the plot to rubbish Amaechi’s image.
“In respect to the NDDC, the defamation campaigners intend to create, make and push to the public space all sorts of speculative and baseless allegations against Amaechi; from the ridiculous to the puerile and completely bizarre stories backed with distorted, phony and fake documents. For clarity, we state emphatically, that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not involved in any way, in the management and operations of the NDDC.
“We wish to alert members of the public of the hawking presence and devious plots of this ‘operation destroy’ Amaechi campaigners.
“Specifically, we want to notify and appeal to both traditional media and online (social) media practitioners to be wary of the insidious shenanigans of these purveyors and hawkers of fake news that is solely intended to deceive the public and destroy the sterling record of many years of meritorious public service by Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.”