Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on the Federal Government to make public the findings of the forensic audit conducted on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), daring authorities to release the report or risk his resignation from cabinet.
Wike made the bold declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Friday night, where he also engaged in a heated exchange over the performance and integrity of former Rivers State governor and immediate-past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Recall that the NDDC forensic audit, initiated by the federal government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was meant to investigate financial transactions and project executions by the interventionist agency from 2001 to August 2019. The probe sought to uncover mismanagement, fraud, and other irregularities.
While the audit was carried out, the findings were never released since then.
Wike accused the government of withholding the audit report to shield individuals implicated in corrupt activities at NDDC.
“Let President Bola Ahmed Tinubu do us a favour and release the report of the forensic audit of the NDDC. Mr. President should help Nigerians.
“If they don’t release it, I will resign as FCT minister.
“Let them release the document. If what I am saying is not in the document, I will resign as the Minister of FCT. I don’t worship the office,” Wike said.
Wike’s statement came a day after Amaechi questioned the source of the FCT Minister’s wealth, but the minister fired back, describing Amaechi as one of the most corrupt human beings.
“I won’t say I was too rich like the Dangotes, but I didn’t have a small background. His (Amaechi’s) anger is that he saw me using a Rolls-Royce, and so what?
“It was not given to me by a contractor. A contractor gave him (Amaechi) one, and that was a bribe. He took from a contractor, but I will not do that. He is one of the most corrupt people,” Wike said.
The minister also cast doubt on Amaechi’s educational qualifications, claiming he failed to graduate from Rivers State University.
“Amaechi went to Rivers State University, but he couldn’t pass,” Wike claimed.
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