Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has addressed comments made by Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation.
Gatekeepers News reports that during his appearance on the Channels Television program Politics Today, Amaechi questioned Wike’s political significance and challenged him to participate in a popularity walk from Abuja to Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Amaechi described his wife, Judith, as an industrialist. In response, Wike challenged this assertion, expressing skepticism regarding her industrial credentials.
Wike has urged President Bola Tinubu to release the findings of a forensic audit conducted on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He claims this report includes records about financial benefits allegedly received by Amaechi’s wife from the intervention agency. Wike further suggested that the report has been suppressed to protect individuals who could be implicated in potential fraud.
The federal government, under the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, initiated this audit to review the NDDC’s financial transactions and project implementations from 2001 to August 2019, aiming to uncover instances of mismanagement, fund misappropriation, and other irregularities.
Wike also stated that a company associated with Judith reportedly received N4 billion monthly from the NDDC, allegedly under the guise of training women in the Niger Delta.
He further claimed that Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, played a role in burying the audit report.
“First of all, Amaechi’s wife was not an industrialist at the time; the best I know,” Wike said.
“And that’s why I’ve called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the forensic audit of the NDDC.
“Through Amaechi’s wife’s company, N4 billion was being received every month to train Niger Delta women. That’s N48 billion a year. The forensic report is there.
“Who killed it? It was Malami (former AGF)—he killed that document to protect those concerned. One of the people who are talking about coalition.
“Mr President should help Nigerians. This is what I’ve always said: please, release the forensic audit of the NDDC.
“N4 billion a month to train Niger Delta women! I have said, ‘Let Mr. President, please, do us a favour and release that document.’
“Just release the document. That’s how his wife became an industrialist; N4 billion every month to train Niger Delta women.”
Wike said he is ready to vacate his position as FCT minister if the audit does not support his claims.
“Let them release the document. If what I am saying is not in the document, I will resign as FCT minister,” he said.
“I said I will resign. I do not worship any office. I didn’t say the forensic audit was right; all I am saying is the audit report should be released.”
Wike also said the former minister cannot demand respect merely on account of being older, adding that honour must be earned and not based on age or past titles.
“I think it’s very unfortunate; you should be respected because of the integrity you have and the honour you have, not because you are 200 years old,” he said.
“He cannot claim to be older than me just because he was governor before me.”
The FCT minister also claimed that his political journey started before he met Amaechi.
“I want to say, with due respect, that I never knew Rotimi from Adams,” he said.
“In 1998, I contested for one of Nigeria’s most respected local governments, Obio/Akpor local government, and I won.”
