Amaechi Left Debts For Me - Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, declared yesterday, that he inherited over N37.9 billion debts from the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

Wike also 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. 

Wike said Amaechi merely returned to the state to launder his image, in view of the collapsed All Progressives Congress (APC) structure.

The governor said APC  is dead in Rivers, and alleged that plot to use security agencies to rig in 2019 will not work, “as the people would resist any form of electoral robbery.”

Governor Wike alleged that during Amaechi’s tenure of the former governor  extorted money from commissioners and local government areas, through his wife.

“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.

The governor described as unfortunate, Amaechi’s statements on projects and programmes across the state, stressing that he would not deceive Rivers 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.

The governor also said his administration has improved security through the funding of the operations of security agencies and  regular payment of their monthly allowances.

Wike further disclosed that his administration inherited six months unpaid monthly allowances to security agencies, which has been cleared.

He added that the administration has addressed environmental sanitation challenges, as part of its urban renewal programme. 

By Tony John

Buhari's Administration Has "Deliberately Abandoned" It's Projects In Rivers State — Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike, has declared that the Federal Government has “deliberately abandoned,” its projects in the state.

Wike made the declaration while speaking at a Town Hall meeting with people of the state in Port Harcourt, on Friday.

According to Wike, “As I speak, all the core economic assets of the Federal Government located in the state, such as the Port Harcourt International Airport, the Port Harcourt Sea Port, Onne ports and Free Trade Zone as well as the East – West Road are either deliberately abandoned, under-utilized or in their worst state of disrepair.”

The governor also disclosed that his administration spent about N145 billion on construction of roads, pedestrian walkways, bridges and underground drainages since it came on board two years.

He said his administration was investing in street lights, provision of water and marine transport system.

Wike said, “In the last two years, we have invested over N145 billion to construct roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems.

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“We are also investing in water, marine transport facilities and streetlights. We further reactivated street lights on all major roads in the state to improve the beauty of the city and enhance security.”

By Seun Opejobi

Recovered $43m: We Have Handed The Matter Over To God - Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has again called on Federal Government to return the $43 million found in Ikoyi building, Lagos State to him.

Wike, who stood his ground that it was kept by Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, urged the people of the State to take the matter to God in prayers.

The governor had earlier threatened to drag the the central government to court.

Wike was speaking during the Easter Church Service at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church in Rumuepirikom, where he urged the church, and Christians in the state to pray that God touches the Federal Government to return the money.

Wike frowned at the inability of the All Progressives Congress led government to take action over the money.

The governor maintained that Buhari was selective in its fight against corruption, noting that such approach would hinder the country’s development.

Wike alleged that the APC used between 70 -80 per cent of Rivers money for the 2015 campaigns.

He said, “We need the prayer of the Church, because there is nothing that prayer cannot do.

“Pray that God should touch the government of Nigeria, so that they will return the money to us. What we are interested is for the money to come back to us.”

Wike stated that contrary to Ameachi’s statement, he has not declared war on the Federal Government, but the Rivers State government was simply requesting the return of funds belonging to the state.

He said, “I cannot declare war on the Federal Government. Anybody bringing Buhari’s name, should leave Buhari and face his own problems.

“The issue is who kept the money at the Ikoyi residence. The money was kept there by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.”

By John Owen Nwachukwu

APC Is Sponsoring Sheriff, To Cause Confusion In PDP - Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday described the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff has a mole under the sponsorship of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government.

Wike alleged that the Federal Government was sponsoring Sheriff to cause crisis within the ranks of the former ruling party.

The governor stressed that despite Federal Government’s move at destabilising the party, PDP will “continue to wax strong.”

Wike claimed that the Federal Government is sponsoring Sheriff because of the destructive crisis that has engulfed the APC at the National level.

Wike said this after he received 7800 APC decampees, who joined the PDP, at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.

According to Wike, “Sheriff is a mole of the APC who is being sponsored by the Federal Government. They are sponsoring Sheriff because of the crisis in the APC.

“The APC has nothing to tell Rivers people on why they should remain in that party. After two years, there is no single Federal Government project in the state”.

Wike said the State has witnessed mass execution of pro-people projects despite the deliberate ploy of the APC and Federal Government to distract his administration

He stressed that the defection of APC members to the PDP signifies the death of the political party in the state because it was founded on falsehood and deception.

Wike said: “We were looking for our brothers they were kidnapped through lies and deceit. We prayed for our brothers to return and today they are back.

“Our brothers and sisters from the APC have returned at a time when the administration has started direct empowerment of the people. Everybody who has returned has equal rights with older members of the party.”

By Seun Opejobi