•Fubara declares FCT minister political chief
•Chinda guarantees inclusive authorities
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, of presiding over questionable expenditures involving billions of naira.
Wike declared that Nigerians wouldn’t entrust the nation’s management to “political gamblers” forward of the 2027 normal election.
Wike, who cited alleged expenditures and transactions involving roughly N486 billion on the exchange-rate equivalents he introduced, challenged Amaechi to account for $10 million allegedly spent on mosquito fumigation, $39 million reportedly allotted to an uncompleted 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, and $308 million from the sale of the Omoku fuel turbine.
The FCT minister made the allegations yesterday in Port Harcourt throughout the unveiling of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance of six events backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and supporting candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.
Wike said that the allegations towards Amaechi, whom he accused of failing to account for public funds throughout his tenure as governor from 2007 to 2015, allegedly raised severe questions on his suitability for greater political workplace.
He additionally criticised the prospect of Amaechi serving as vice presidential candidate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar below African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the mix could be unacceptable to Nigerians.
“As bad as the Atiku ticket is, attaching Rotimi Amaechi as a vice president worsens it. It is important to show your report card,” Wike mentioned.
Recalling Amaechi’s administration, the minister alleged that $10 million, which he valued at N14 billion, was spent on mosquito fumigation in Rivers State regardless of the continued prevalence of mosquito bites and malaria.
“He paid $10 million. $10 million today is N14 billion. N14 billion for malaria not to bite you. Rotimi Amaechi, we are still having mosquito bites,” he mentioned.
Wike additional alleged that $39 million, equal to N53 billion on the figures he cited, was spent on the proposed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the present educating hospital was pulled down, however that no basis had been laid for the substitute facility.
“Ask Rotimi Amaechi, what is the foundation of the Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital? Is there any foundation? Have they laid any foundation? No. $39 million gone. N53 billion gone,” he alleged.
On the Omoku fuel turbine, Wike claimed that the power was offered in December 2014 for $308 million, which he valued at a minimum of N419 billion, however that solely $308,000 remained when he assumed workplace in May 2015.
He mentioned, “I came in on May 29, 2015. Six months after, what he left was $308,000. From $308 million to $308,000. Ask him, where is the $308 million that he sold?”
The minister additionally claimed {that a} judicial panel of inquiry established throughout his administration indicted Amaechi over the transactions, including that the previous governor challenged the findings in courtroom and misplaced on the State High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Wike mentioned the Rainbow Coalition was designed to unite politicians throughout social gathering traces in help of Tinubu’s re-election quite than create divisions or political instability.
“I have said, and let me reiterate, that the Rainbow Coalition means no harm, but to bring people of all the various political parties together to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he mentioned.
He insisted that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) throughout the nation ought to help Tinubu, claiming that the social gathering’s recognised nationwide management was aligned with the coalition’s place.
Wike particularly urged PDP members in Imo, Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara and Ogun states, amongst others, to help the president in 2027.
He additionally dismissed the existence of every other politically viable social gathering in Rivers State, declaring that the coalition represented a united entrance forward of the subsequent normal election.
Wike introduced that the coalition would maintain its flag-off rally on November 7 on the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Igwuruta, Rivers State, whereas expressing confidence that the turnout would surpass that of yesterday’s occasion.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, urged his supporters to cease referring to him because the political chief of the state, and overtly recognised Wike because the chief of the coalition.
“Going forward, this issue of my leader, my leader, my leader, I want it resolved here and now. I am no more the leader. My Oga, the General Overseer, GO, is our leader,” Fubara mentioned.
The governor expressed gratitude to Wike, acknowledging his position in his emergence as governor and pledging to work in the direction of the coalition’s victory within the 2027 elections.
He additionally reaffirmed his help for Tinubu, whom he credited with standing by him throughout troublesome moments.
Fubara unveiled Kingsley Chinda because the APC governorship candidate below the Rainbow Coalition, alongside different candidates representing the alliance’s collaborating events.
In his acceptance speech, after receiving the social gathering’s flag from the governor, Chinda promised an inclusive administration that may accommodate totally different political events, spiritual teams and ethnic communities if elected.
“We are no longer divided on party lines. We are no longer playing the politics of the winner-takes-it-all,” he mentioned.
He pledged that the coalition would stay intact past the elections, with members collaborating in governance and prioritising the pursuits of Rivers residents.
“Our number one candidate in the Rainbow Coalition is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Chinda declared.
