FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, challenging him to account for major projects and expenditures incurred during his administration.
Wike made the statements on Saturday, during a visit to the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike, who spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council as well as leaders and stakeholders of Ahoada East and West Local Governments, Rivers State at the Ekpeye House in Ahoada, was reacting to Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday evening.
Amaechi, a former governor and Minister of Transportation, had criticised the Federal Government over its record of project delivery and challenged the administration to name major projects it had completed.
But Wike turned the spotlight on his predecessor’s record in Rivers, questioning what became of several projects initiated under Amaechi.
He specifically raised questions over the $39 million reportedly paid for the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the N68 billion monorail project and about N10 billion allegedly spent on an anti-malaria fumigation programme.
Wike asked what became of the money committed to the hospital project after the facility was not completed.
The controversy over the hospital dates back to the Amaechi administration.
A Rivers State judicial commission set up under Wike had investigated the payment of $39.2 million to a contractor for the project and its failure to materialise.
Wike also questioned the fate of the monorail project, which was among the major infrastructure schemes initiated by the Amaechi administration, as well as the expenditure on the fumigation programme.
He went further to criticize a $10 million malaria control project that was executed with Cuba to eradicate mosquitoes in the state, dismissing the initiative as a scam.
“Ask him about the fumigation of Rivers State with people from Cuba in which $10 million was spent. Ask him whether mosquitoes have stopped biting us in Rivers State,” he said.
The FCT Minister said such issues should be considered when assessing the records of political leaders seeking higher office.
Wike also challenged Amaechi’s record after spending eight years each as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor and Minister of Transportation.
“Someone was Speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years, that is 24 years in top leadership positions. What can anybody point to that he attracted to Ekpeye Land in all those 24 years? Nothing! Not one single thing!” he said.
The minister urged the people of Ahoada East and West Local Governments to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment allegedly attracted to the area during Amaechi’s years in public office.
Wike said leadership should not be measured only by the offices occupied but by the people empowered, projects delivered and structures left behind.
He contrasted this with what he described as his own efforts to empower people and develop political successors, saying leaders should not deliberately prevent others from rising.
Wike also criticised what he described as the use of personal and family tragedies for political purposes.
He said political disagreements should not descend into the exploitation of private grief, particularly matters surrounding the death of family members.
