Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to account for major projects and expenditures undertaken during his eight years in office. Wike spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council, leaders and stakeholders……
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to account for major projects and expenditures undertaken during his eight years in office.
Wike spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council, leaders and stakeholders of Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Rivers State.
The minister was reacting to Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, during which the former governor and Minister of Transportation criticised the Federal Government’s record on project delivery and challenged the administration to identify major projects it had completed.
Wike turned the challenge back on his predecessor, asking what became of several projects initiated during Amaechi’s administration.
He specifically questioned the reported $39 million expenditure on the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the N68 billion monorail project and spending on an anti-malaria fumigation programme.
Wike asked what happened to the funds reportedly paid to the contractor for the specialist hospital after the project was left incomplete.
The controversy over the hospital dates back to the Amaechi administration, with a judicial commission established by the Rivers State Government under Wike investigating the reported payment of $39.2 million to a contractor for the project.
Wike also questioned the fate of the monorail, one of the major infrastructure projects initiated under Amaechi, as well as the money reportedly spent on the state’s mosquito-control programme.
“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,” Wike said.
The minister said the records of political leaders should be assessed based on the projects delivered and people empowered during their years in office.
He challenged Amaechi to account for his 24 years in prominent public positions, comprising eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and eight years as Minister of Transportation.
“Someone was Speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years. What can anybody point to that he attracted to Ekpeye Land in all those 24 years? Nothing! Not one single thing!” Wike said.
He urged residents of Ahoada East and West to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment allegedly attracted to the area during Amaechi’s years in public office.
According to Wike, political leadership should be judged not merely by the positions occupied but by the people empowered, projects delivered and institutions left behind.
He also defended his own record of political empowerment, saying leaders should create opportunities for others rather than deliberately preventing potential successors from emerging.
Wike criticised the use of personal and family tragedies in political disputes, warning against exploiting private grief for political advantage.
The minister also questioned claims about Amaechi’s political influence in Rivers State, challenging his supporters to examine his electoral record.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” he said.
Wike further revisited aspects of their former political relationship and disagreements, including disputes over appointments and business interests involving federal maritime agencies.
He also contrasted what he described as Amaechi’s political approach with the Tinubu administration’s regional development initiatives and appointments involving people from the South-South.
The latest exchange adds another chapter to the long-running political rivalry between the two former Rivers leaders, who were once political allies before becoming major opponents.
