Ex-health Commissioner Speaks On Amaechi's Mental Condition

Dr Sampson Parker, the former commissioner for health in Rivers state, has reacted to allegations that Rotimi Amaechi is having mental illness, Daily Post reports.

Governor Nyesom Wike and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers state have spread rumours that Amaechi was a psychiatric patient.

In a recent statement, Wike described Amaechi as a failed governor who needs urgent psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

“He is a psychiatric patient who was at the radio station abusing people who are old enough to be his fathers/mothers simply because his party lost at the Supreme Court.”

“Amaechi lacks sound parental upbringing. He has vindicated us when he said that he has been given the army to rig the rerun elections. I know the chief of army staff very well. He should not allow a psychiatric patient to use the army to rig,” he said.

However, Parker said that the claim was false and denied having treated the ex-governor of any mental illness.

According to the former commissioner for health, the reports were aimed at denigrating him and soil his relationship with his ex-boss.

''I have decided to speak now because my name is being used in the social and electronic media for inordinate political purposes.

“Rumours, half-truths, innuendos, silly allegations and outright lies are being elevated to the level of facts. I don’t know how we arrived at this juncture in the politics of Rivers state, where nothing is sacred; everything and everyone can be sacrificed just to score cheap political points. My fear is that Rivers people and indeed Nigerians may confuse or accept these wicked rumours and lies as truth,” he said.

Parker stressed that no medical doctor would discuss his patient with anyone not involved in the treatment of that patient.

“People have assigned patients to me, diagnosed them and passed off their diagnosis as mine. This is akin to shaving ones head in that person’s absence.

''I have heard things purportedly done and said by me from people who are not even close friends or relatives. In the past I dismissed these as the handiwork of jobless people who want to amuse themselves at my expense. I saw it as part of the sacrifices one makes for public service.

''These unfounded rumours are now being touted at campaign grounds and even radio stations in Rivers state. It is time to speak!

“Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was not my patient at the Psychiatric Hospital when I worked there. I have never diagnosed or treated him as a psychiatric patient. I am not aware he has any psychiatric or mental health issues.

“The first time I heard this silly rumour was from Gov. Amaechi just before we left office. I saw the allegation as a joke. I was amused and did not take it seriously since we both know the truth. He knows I have never made any diagnosis of mental illness concerning him and I thought my energies were better applied to looking for daily bread for me and my family.

“Now that rumours are being repeated as facts even by people I held in high esteem, I have chosen to address it for the first and last time. Again, I state that I am not aware of any episode of mental ill-health over the 15 years of working closely with him as a friend and later as his commissioner for health,” he said.

#News