Wike to Amaechi: Account for $39m hospital, N68bn monorail

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to account for major projects and expenditures undertaken during his time in office.

Wike spoke 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.

His remarks followed Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, during which the former governor criticised the Federal Government over its record of project delivery and challenged the administration to identify major projects it had completed.

Wike, however, shifted attention to projects initiated under Amaechi’s administration, questioning the fate of several schemes.

He specifically raised questions about the $39.2m reportedly paid to a contractor for the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the N68bn monorail project and spending on an anti-malaria fumigation programme.

A judicial commission established by the Rivers State Government under Wike had previously investigated the payment made for the specialist hospital project and its failure to be completed.

Wike also questioned the outcome of the state’s malaria-control programme involving Cuban partners.

“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 the projects and expenditures should form part of any assessment of the records of political leaders seeking higher office.

He also challenged Amaechi to identify what he attracted to Ekpeye land during his years in public office.

“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!” 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 tenure.

Wike said political leadership should be measured by the people empowered, projects delivered and structures established, rather than the number of offices occupied.

He also defended his own record of empowering political associates and developing successors, arguing that leaders should not deliberately prevent others from advancing.

The minister further criticised the use of personal tragedies in political disagreements, warning against exploiting family losses to gain political sympathy or attack opponents.

Wike also questioned Amaechi’s electoral influence in Rivers State.

“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” he said.

The latest remarks add to the long-running political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who previously worked together in Rivers politics before becoming prominent political opponents.