Former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on his predecessor and political rival, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing the latter’s wife obtaining N48billion from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the training of women.
Wike made the claim during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, where he addressed various political issues, including recent remarks by Amaechi, who had claimed seniority over him and demanded respect on account of age and political experience.
Responding pointedly, Wike dismissed Amaechi’s assertion, saying, “I think it’s very unfortunate. You should be respected because of the integrity you have and the honour you have, not because you are 200 years old. He cannot claim to be older than me just because he was governor before me.”
The FCT minister went further to trace his political history, claiming he was already an elected local government chairman before ever meeting Amaechi.
“I want to say, with due respect, that I never knew Rotimi from Adams. In 1998, I contested for one of Nigeria’s most respected local governments, Obiakpor Local Government, and I won,” Wike stated.
He recounted how mutual associates allegedly aided Amaechi’s political career after an initial defeat.
Wike turned his attention to Amaechi’s wife, accusing her of falsely claiming the title of “industrialist” and linking her to alleged financial malfeasance exposed by the yet-to-be-published forensic audit report on the NDDC.
“When did your wife become an industrialist? Which company does she own?” Wike asked.
“Let’s play politics; leave our wives out of this. I regret to bring her up here. She’s not an industrialist; selling does not make you an industrialist.”
Wike criticised Amaechi for allegedly using his wife’s business status for political grandstanding and questioned his rival’s regard for his spouse.
“So unfortunate that a former governor will say that because my wife is a trader, therefore, she is an industrialist. If you love your wife, why would you bring her up in this kind of discussion? I respect my wife; that’s why it’s very difficult for me to talk about women. How can a man who wants to become a governor talk about his wife like that? I don’t think Amaechi loves his wife. If he loves his wife, he would not say that kind of thing about her.”
Wike, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to release the long-awaited NDDC forensic audit report, alleging that it contains details of how Amaechi’s wife got billions of naira.
“I ask Mr President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC, to make Amaechi’s wife explain how she spent N48 billion on training Niger Delta women,” he said. “It was [former Attorney-General] Malami that killed that report. That’s how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist — four billion naira every month to train Niger Delta women,” Wike revealed.
