Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has leveled serious accusations against Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, claiming that Amaechi’s wife allegedly profited from a N4 billion contract awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
During a candid interview on Channels TV’s “Politics Today” on Friday night anchored by Seun Okinbaloye and monitored by Persecondnews, Wike who didn’t hold back, called Amaechi, his former boss, a “hypocrite.”
He argued that Amaechi’s public image is inconsistent with his private actions.
Specifically, Wike alleged that Amaechi’s wife, whom he claimed has no prior experience as an industrialist, received billions in contracts through a company reportedly connected to her.
These contracts were supposedly for the purpose of training women in the Niger Delta.
Wike also demanded the immediate release of the long-awaited forensic audit report of the NDDC by the Bola Tinubu administration.
He said: “Amaechi’s wife was never an industrialist—the best I know,” Wike declared.
“Mr President should release the forensic audit of the NDDC. Her company got N4 billion to train Niger Delta women, and within one year, N48 billion was involved.”
Wike has claimed that the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), initiated by the previous administration to investigate widespread financial mismanagement, has been suppressed to shield powerful individuals.
Specifically, he pointed fingers at Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation, alleging that Malami “buried” the report to protect those implicated in the audit.
“Who killed the audit report? It was Malami, the Attorney General then,” Wike said.
“If President Tinubu really wants to help Nigerians, let him release the forensic audit of the NDDC. If what I am saying is not in that document, I will resign as Minister of FCT. I don’t worship office.”
Asked by the programme’s anchor if it was a crime to secure a federal government contract, Wike fired back, highlighting the scale of the transaction.
“Is it a crime to get a contract? N4 billion a month to train Niger Delta women? Let the document come out. I say again, let the president release that audit. That is how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist,” the minister said.
He also addressed Amaechi’s past claims of receiving a Rolls-Royce as a gift, using the opportunity to question the source of the luxury vehicle and link it to possible conflict of interest.
“He said someone gave him a Rolls-Royce. Who gave him? Senator John Mbata gave him. When? When Amaechi was governor,” Wike alleged.
Wike said Mbata, who was then chairman of Monak Construction Company (MCC), received a significant chunk—up to 60 percent—of state contracts in Rivers during Amaechi’s tenure.
“Monak was doing 60 percent of contracts in Rivers. In fact, he [Mbata] was the man Amaechi gave the contract to supply all the vehicles to take over transportation in the state. They were never supplied,” Wike claimed.
While acknowledging Senator Mbata’s past contributions to his own political growth, Wike clarified that personal gratitude would not stop him from calling out impropriety.
“I’ll never deny that he supported me politically. But when you see something that is wrong, it’s wrong.”
Wike also queried Amaechi’s academic background, saying “He went to Rivers State University but couldn’t pass. He moved to UniPort. I’m an alumnus, and I’ll tell you the grade he came out with.”
Persecondnews recalls that Wike had served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff as governor.
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