Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to identify a single election he has won in the state since their political relationship broke down in 2011.
Wike made the challenge while speaking with leaders and stakeholders of Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas at an interactive meeting in Ahoada, Rivers State.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” Wike said.
The FCT minister was responding to comments Amaechi made during a recent appearance on Politics Today, where the former governor questioned the Federal Government’s record of delivering major projects and challenged the administration to identify significant projects it had completed.
Wike turned the challenge back on Amaechi, urging his supporters to examine the former governor’s political record and what he described as his legacy in Rivers State.
He also questioned the handling of funds associated with projects initiated during Amaechi’s administration, including the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital.
Wike asked what happened to the reported $39.2 million paid to a contractor for the hospital project, which was never completed.
He also questioned the fate of the N68 billion Rivers State monorail project, another major infrastructure initiative launched under Amaechi.
Wike referenced a judicial commission established during his administration, which investigated the payment made for the hospital project and its failure to materialise.
He also criticised a malaria-control initiative involving Cuban personnel, questioning the outcome of the reported $10 million 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.
According to Wike, such projects and expenditures should form part of the assessment of politicians who seek to continue holding public office or pursue higher political positions.
He noted that Amaechi had spent eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and another eight years as a federal minister.
“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 challenged residents of Ahoada East and Ahoada West to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment allegedly attracted to the area during Amaechi’s years in public office.
Wike argued that political leadership should be judged not only by the positions held but also by the projects delivered, people empowered and new leaders developed.
He also contrasted his own approach to leadership with what he described as Amaechi’s record, saying politicians should create opportunities for others to rise rather than prevent potential successors from emerging.
The minister further criticised what he described as attempts to bring personal and family tragedies into political disagreements, saying private grief should not become a tool for political attacks.
Wike recalled his former political relationship with Amaechi and some of the disagreements that eventually separated them, including disputes involving appointments and interests connected to federal maritime agencies.
He also compared the political approach of the former governor with developments under the Tinubu administration, particularly the creation of regional development structures and appointments involving people from the South-South.
