The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike on Monday went on the offensive again this time describing his predecessor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as nothing but a “total failure.”
Wike and Amaechi have been at loggerheads for years whilst they strive to enthrone their respective political parties in the state.
Amaechi was Rivers governor from May 2007 to May 2015. The top-ranking member of the ruling All Progressives Congress was Minister of Transportation for seven cumulative years till mid-May 2022 when he resigned to pursue his presidential ambition. Amaechi, however, lost to ex-governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.
Amaechi had on Saturday taken a swipe at Wike at the funeral of a traditional ruler, Alabo Graham-Douglas, in the Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.
The former minister had knocked Wike, who was absent at the funeral, saying he thought the state governor would take responsibility for everything concerning the Kalabari chief and recognised him.
Reacting, Wike on Monday, replied Amaechi, saying he chose to stay away from the burial because it was politicised.
The governor went on to detail how he constructed the roads leading to the residence and palace of the traditional ruler when he was alive. The governor also claimed he elevated Alabo’s stool to the status of a first-class monarch before he passed away.
Wike, who was speaking at the commissioning of the Reconstructed Ultra Modern Seven Storey Office Complex, Aba Road, Porthacourt, constructed by his administration dared, the former minister to point out what he was able to influence to Rivers State while he was in the office as a grade ‘A’ of Minister of Transportation
“When I was a Minister, a junior minister for that matter, I brought Oil and Gas Polytechnic in Bonnie,” Wike said
“As a junior minister, I renovated most of Secondary Schools in the state.
“Tell us as a grade ‘A’ minister, what did you do? Wike challenged Amaechi.
“This should be your last time that you (Amaechi) will talk about this state because you are a total failure as far as this state is concerned. A total failure. Even, what is supposed to come to us, you blocked it but we didn’t bother.
“You think you will not finish as a minister, you have left. I hear he can’t even enter Villa now. All those periods you intimidated police people, army people is over. You use to tell them, ‘The President is angry with you.’ Now, go and tell them.
Wike praised himself for what he has been able to achieve since his inception into office as governor of the state adding that the good people of Rivers State appreciate what he has done/doing.
“Don’t distract us again or else I will say more things,” Wike further warned the former minister.