● Demands answers over $10m fumigation contract, $39m hospital project
● Raises questions over monorail, sale of Rivers power assets
● Denies personal feud with former governor
● Warns against alleged ADC plans to foment trouble in South-South
By PHC Telegraph
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has renewed his challenge to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, calling on journalists to investigate several financial transactions and abandoned projects undertaken during Amaechi’s administration.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike questioned how millions of dollars allegedly committed to public projects were spent, insisting that the Nigerian media had a responsibility to demand accountability from those who previously occupied public office.
Among the transactions he identified were an alleged $10 million expenditure on fumigation in Rivers State, $39 million reportedly committed to the construction of the proposed 1,000-bed Kelsey Harrison Hospital, the controversial Rivers monorail project and the sale of power assets developed during the administration of former Governor Peter Odili.
The former Rivers State governor argued that these transactions raised important questions about transparency, public expenditure and the management of state resources.
He challenged journalists to establish what happened to the funds, determine whether the projects delivered value for money and identify those responsible for decisions taken during the period.
Wike, who served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi before their political relationship deteriorated, repeatedly denied that his criticism of the former governor was motivated by personal differences.
He maintained that the issues he raised concerned public accountability rather than a private disagreement between two former political allies.
The FCT Minister also accused sections of the Nigerian media of selective scrutiny, alleging that some journalists were unwilling to investigate matters involving certain political personalities.
According to him, the media should subject all public officials, irrespective of political affiliation, to the same standards of accountability.
His latest remarks are likely to revive public debate over the management of Rivers State’s finances during the Amaechi administration, particularly the fate of major infrastructure projects that attracted substantial public investment.
The monorail project, conceived as an urban transportation initiative for Port Harcourt, became one of the most controversial projects of the Amaechi years after work stalled without the proposed transportation system becoming operational.
Questions have also persisted over the circumstances surrounding the sale of state-owned electricity assets and the financial commitments made towards the proposed hospital project.
However, the allegations raised by Wike remain matters requiring independent verification. The figures cited by the Minister, the relevant contractual records, actual payments and the circumstances surrounding the transactions would need to be examined before conclusions could be reached.
Amaechi’s response to the latest allegations was not available at the time of preparing this report.
Meanwhile, Wike dismissed suggestions that northern Nigeria had become politically inaccessible to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that political activities in Nasarawa and Kogi states had demonstrated that claims of overwhelming northern opposition to the President were exaggerated.
According to the Minister, those portraying the North as a political no-go area for Tinubu were misreading developments on the ground.
Turning to the South-South, Wike alleged that elements within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, were planning to create political disturbances in the region.
He warned that any attempt to introduce violence or instability into the electoral process would fail.
The Minister, however, did not publicly present evidence substantiating the alleged plans during the remarks reported.
He also disclosed that additional infrastructure projects would be commissioned in the Federal Capital Territory before the end of the year, describing the anticipated inaugurations as part of the administration’s continuing development programme.
Wike’s renewed criticism of Amaechi comes against the background of their longstanding political rivalry and the intensifying contest for influence in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the Minister insists that his questions are not personal, the latest exchange is expected to sharpen political divisions among supporters of both men.
For Rivers residents, however, the larger question may be whether the renewed controversy will finally produce a comprehensive public accounting of the projects, contracts and financial transactions at the centre of the dispute.
