Rivers: Amaechi was never a psychiatric patient – Former Health Commissioner

Rotimi Amaechi

The former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, Dr. Sampson Parker has denied treating former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of any mental illness.

Leaders of the PDP in Rivers State had peddled rumour that Parker was the psychiatric doctor of Amaechi.

But Parker, who denied this known in a statement personally signed by him, said the claim was false.

He said the reports were aimed at denigrating him and soil his relationship with former Governor Amaechi, his former boss.

Sampson Parker also wondered why the politics of Rivers State had degenerated to its lowest ebb.

The statement reads, “On May 29, 2015, my service as the Rivers State Commissioner for Health came to an end after 8 years. I was one of the longest serving Commissioners in the Amaechi administration.

“As I was leaving the office of Commissioner, I also retired from the Rivers State Ministry of Health as a civil servant. Just a little diversion: Due to policies we initiated in the Ministry, most of my contemporaries were earning more than I did as Commissioner for Health. I may not have been assigned to any medical facility but I still practiced medicine even while serving as Commissioner for Health.

“While it would have made sense, at least financially, for me to remain as a staff of Ministry of Health, I chose to leave. I left for the main reason that I wanted to take a break from politics. I knew that my continued stay in the RSMOH would open me up to being used as a political fodder for and against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. In that atmosphere, it would have been impossible for me to work as a civil servant.

“At the age of 48, with children in school, I had no job. Ironically, I have worked in one form or another since the age of 10. So here I was with no employment; mouths to feed, rent to pay, and other obligations to fulfil. I decided to devote my time to performing my obligations as a husband, father and son.

“It has not been easy to stay focused on my new life as there have been numerous temptations to jump into the political fray, especially in Rivers State.

“However, 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.

“No medical doctor would discuss his patient with anyone not involved in the treatment of that patient let alone discuss such patient publicly.

“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.

“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.

Source: daily post