The
former Governor of Rivers state and his wife, Rotimi Amaechi have been
implicated following shocking revelations that Amaechi's wife was paid
millions illegally by Commissioners and LG Chairmen monthly during her
husband's tenure.
Governor Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed that all council
chairmen and commissioners in Rivers state paid the wife of former
Governor Rotimi Amaechi N3million and N2million monthly.
He made the shocking revelation yesterday while making public the
amount of debt the Government inherited from Amaechi while he was in
power.
Wike said that he inherited over N37.9 billion debts from the
Rotimi Amaechi administration. as he reiterated that his administration
would continue to deliver projects that would improve the living
condition of the Rivers people.
He said these, yesterday, in a live radio interview in Port
Harcourt, on the heels of the former governor’s criticism of Wike’s
administration, at an occasion where he celebrated his (Amaechi) 52nd
birthday celebration in the state capital.
“We inherited N14.7 billion as salaries and pensions from the
Amaechi administration, which we cleared; N23.2 billion bank loan was
also inherited and cleared by us.
“Another agriculture loan obtained by that administration was
cleared by my administration. When I was chief of staff to Amaechi, all
council chairmen and commissioners were paying N3 million and N2
million, respectively, to Amaechi’s wife monthly,” he alleged.
Wike said he would never make empty promises to the people because
his administration is built on transparency, accountability and
commitment to the welfare of the people.
“It is unfortunate that someone who was celebrating his 52nd birthday would tell Rivers people what is not correct.
“The immediate past administration abandoned projects by
previous administrations. But, we chose to complete projects that they
abandoned. We completed all the projects that will positively impact on
the lives of our people.”
On the abandoned projects inherited by his administration, Wike
said contrary to Amaechi’s claims, his administration paid the
contractors N6 billion to complete the Epirikom-Rumuolumeni Road, which
was awarded in 2012, at the cost of N10.3 billion.
Wike also disclosed that the road was less than 25 percent
completed at the time his administration took over. Speaking further,
the governor said Nkpogu Bridges were awarded by the immediate past
administration, but were not constructed because of a dispute between
the contractor and that administration.
He said his administration inherited the contractors, negotiated
and paid the contractors for the bridges, which had been delivered and
commissioned.
Wike pointed out that the administration paid for and completed the
abandoned Ozuoba-Ogbogoro-Rumuolumini Road and is already working on
the abandoned Garrison-Trans Amadi -Elelenwo which will be completed in
December.
Wike also said his administration was working on the
Elelenwo-Akpajo road and Ochigba road in Ahoada East Local Government
Area, abandoned by the previous administration due to political
consideration.
Governor Wike said his administration had initiated new projects that have impacted the lives of the people, positively.
He listed 42 road projects in Diobu, Borikiri, Ogbunabali, Isiokpo,
Elele-Alimini, Omoku, Igwuruta-Chokocho, Chokocho-Rumukrusi, Ulakwo
II-Afara-Nihi, Eneka-Rukpokwu, Rukpokwu-Aluu among other road impacting
positively on members of the public.
The governor added that his administration has revived the state’s
secondary health care sector by rehabilitating 13 general hospitals,
while over 300 primary schools were being renovated and equipped under
the state Universal Basic Education programme.
“His (Amaechi) anger is that I have been given the name, Mr.
Projects. I came to serve the people. You are comparing your eight years
with my two years.
“’My academic background cannot be compared with that of Amaechi. I have never had a poor grade.
“I went to University of Port Harcourt, where I studied
Political Science. I went to Rivers State University, where I studied
law.
“I went to Law School and I came out successfully,” said Wike.
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