By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—THE refusal by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to set up a transition committee  to interface with the one constituted by the governor-elect in the state, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been described as an act of impunity.

Secretary to the transition committee set up by the governor-elect,  Mr Frank Owhor,  who briefed newsmen, yesterday, in the office of the Deputy Governor, Old Government House, Port Harcourt, said  it had been the practice in the nation’s democracy since 1999 for transition committees to be set up by a governor-elect and the outgoing governor.

Owhor who said it was unfortunate and hypocritical that Governor Amaechi, who allegedly refused to set up a transition committee in his state after his candidate lost the guber election was busy in Abuja as a member of a transition committee interfacing with the one set up by the Federal Government to ensure smooth transition of power on May 29 .

He said: “In the current democratic dispensation, the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan has already set up a transition committee. President-elect General Mohammadu Buhari has also set up his transition committee which incidentally has Governor Amaechi as a member.

“Unfortunately the outgoing government in Rivers State led by Amaechi has refused to set up its transition committee. It  smacks of double standards that Amaechi who is a prominent member of the transition committee of the president-elect has rejected all entreaties for a peaceful transition in the state.

“Efforts by the transition committee of the incoming administration to interface with the Rivers State Government have been thwarted by the latter.”