Amaechi neglected Rivers as minister, took transportation varsity to Daura — Wike

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), has accused Rotimi Amaechi, the 2027 vice-presidential candidate of the
African Democratic Congress (ADC), of neglecting Rivers state when he was
Minister of Transportation.

 

Wike spoke on Saturday during a civic reception held in his
honour at Omagwa in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers state.

Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers, served as Minister
of Transportation under the administration of the late former President
Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2022.

Amaechi resigned as minister in 2022 to contest the All
Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary. He was defeated at the APC
primary by President Bola Tinubu.

Addressing guests at the reception, Wike claimed that
Amaechi did not address Rivers’ problems when he was a minister.

The FCT minister also alleged that Amaechi facilitated the
siting of the Federal University of Transportation in Daura, Katsina State, the
hometown of the late President Buhari, because he wanted to become president.

“Now that he wants to run for vice-president (Amaechi), we
must ask: what happened during all the years he was minister of
transportation?” Wike asked.

“Did he relate with us? Did he think about our problems? Did
he bring anything here?

“Rather, you sent a university to Daura because you thought
that would make you president. Did it make you president?”

‘TINUBU IS OUR BROTHER’

Wike said during the administration of former President
Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi defined a brother not necessarily as a blood
relative but as someone who stands by others in difficult times and identifies
with their challenges.

He said Amaechi had argued that Jonathan could not be
regarded as a “brother” to the people of Rivers sate, while asking residents to
consider Buhari as a kinsman.

Referring to Amaechi’s definition of brotherhood, Wike said
the former minister could not be regarded as a brother because he neglected the
people of his state.

The FCT minister said President Bola Tinubu had done well to
earn the recognition of a “brother” to the people of Rivers state.

“He (Amaechi) said a brother is somebody who identifies with
you in times of trouble, relates with you, and thinks about your welfare and
survival,” Wike said.

“Brotherhood, according to him, is not about blood
relationship but about survival.

“When Jonathan was president, our brother (Amaechi) said
Jonathan never cared for us and therefore could not be our brother.

“He told us that Muhammadu Buhari was our brother because
Buhari would identify with us and relate with us.

“Tinubu has identified with us. He has related with us. He
has understood our problems and helped solve them. Therefore, by the definition
of brotherhood that Amaechi himself gave us, Tinubu is our brother.”

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