Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to account for major projects and public funds expended during his eight-year administration in the state.
Wike threw the challenge at Amaechi on Saturday while addressing the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council, leaders and stakeholders from Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas at Ekpeye House, Ahoada.
The FCT minister was reacting to Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, where the former governor and Minister of Transportation questioned the Federal Government’s record of project execution and challenged it to identify major projects it had completed.
Wike said Amaechi should first account for projects and expenditures undertaken during his tenure as Rivers governor before questioning the performance of subsequent administrations.
He specifically questioned the reported $39.2 million payment for the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the N68 billion Rivers State monorail project and the alleged expenditure of $10 million on a malaria-control programme involving Cuba.
On the specialist hospital, Wike asked what happened to the money reportedly paid to the contractor after the project was left incomplete.
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The issue had previously been examined by a judicial commission of inquiry constituted by the Rivers State Government under Wike. The commission investigated the reported payment of $39.2 million to a contractor for the hospital project and its failure to materialise.
Wike similarly questioned the fate of the monorail project initiated under Amaechi, one of the major infrastructure projects of the former administration.
He also revisited the malaria-control programme involving Cuban experts, challenging the justification for the expenditure.
“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 argued that political leaders should be judged by their records of projects, empowerment and tangible impact on the people rather than the number or level of political offices they occupied.
Wike particularly challenged Amaechi to identify what he attracted to the Ekpeye area after spending eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and another 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, 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.
He urged the people 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, leadership should be measured by the opportunities created for the people, infrastructure delivered and political structures established for future generations.
He also highlighted what he described as his own efforts to empower political actors and create opportunities for others to advance, arguing that political leaders should not prevent emerging leaders from attaining positions.
Wike further criticised the alleged use of personal and family tragedies in political disputes, warning that private grief should not be turned into a weapon for political attacks or mobilisation.
The minister also questioned claims about Amaechi’s political influence in Rivers State, challenging his supporters to identify elections the former governor had won in the state since their political alliance ended.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” Wike said.
He recalled their former political relationship and subsequent disagreements, including disputes over appointments and interests involving federal maritime agencies.
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