Wike to Amaechi: Account for $39m hospital, N68bn monorail, N10bn anti-malaria fumigation

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to account for major projects and expenditures incurred during his administration.

Wike spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council and leaders and stakeholders of Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas at Ekpeye House in Ahoada.

The FCT Minister was reacting to Amaechi’s appearance on Channels Television’s _Politics Today_ on Friday, where the former Minister of Transportation criticised the Federal Government over its record of project delivery and challenged the administration to name major projects it had completed.

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.

He 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 criticise 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 to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment 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.

ALSO READ: No amount of prayers can help us with bad leadership – Primate Ayodele

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, warning against a political culture in which personal tragedies are deployed to gain sympathy or attack opponents.

He further challenged claims about Amaechi’s political influence in Rivers State, asking 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.

The minister also recalled their political relationship and past disagreements, including controversies surrounding appointments and business interests involving federal maritime agencies.

He contrasted what he described as Amaechi’s approach with the Tinubu administration’s establishment of regional development structures and appointments involving people from the South-South.

His latest comments deepen the long-running political feud between the two former Rivers leaders, who once worked together before becoming major political rivals.