Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed that all council
chairmen and commissioners in Rivers state paid the wife of former
Governor Rotimi Amaechi N3million and N2million monthly.
He
made the shocking revelation yesterday while making public the amount
of debt the
Government inherited from Amaechi while he was in power.
Wike
said that he inherited over N37.9 billion debts from the Rotimi Amaechi
administration. as he reiterated that his administration would continue
to deliver projects that would improve the living condition of the
Rivers people.
He said these, yesterday, in a live radio
interview in Port Harcourt, on the heels of the former governor’s
criticism of Wike’s administration, at an occasion where he celebrated
his (Amaechi) 52nd birthday celebration in the state capital.
“We
inherited N14.7 billion as salaries and pensions from the Amaechi
administration, which we cleared; N23.2 billion bank loan was also
inherited and cleared by us.
“Another agriculture loan obtained
by that administration was cleared by my administration. When I was
chief of staff to Amaechi, all council chairmen and commissioners were
paying N3 million and N2 million, respectively, to Amaechi’s wife
monthly,” he alleged.
Wike said he would never make empty
promises to the people because his administration is built on
transparency, accountability and commitment to the welfare of the
people.
“It is unfortunate that someone who was celebrating his 52nd birthday would tell Rivers people what is not correct.
“The
immediate past administration abandoned projects by previous
administrations. But, we chose to complete projects that they abandoned.
We completed all the projects that will positively impact on the lives
of our people.”
On the abandoned projects inherited by his
administration, Wike said contrary to Amaechi’s claims, his
administration paid the contractors N6 billion to complete the
Epirikom-Rumuolumeni Road, which was awarded in 2012, at the cost of
N10.3 billion.
Wike also disclosed that the road was less than 25
percent completed at the time his administration took over. Speaking
further, the governor said Nkpogu Bridges were awarded by the immediate
past administration, but were not constructed because of a dispute
between the contractor and that administration.
He said his
administration inherited the contractors, negotiated and paid the
contractors for the bridges, which had been delivered and commissioned.
Wike
pointed out that the administration paid for and completed the
abandoned Ozuoba-Ogbogoro-Rumuolumini Road and is already working on the
abandoned Garrison-Trans Amadi -Elelenwo which will be completed in
December.
Wike also said his administration was working on the
Elelenwo-Akpajo road and Ochigba road in Ahoada East Local Government
Area, abandoned by the previous administration due to political
consideration.
Governor Wike said his administration had initiated new projects that have impacted the lives of the people, positively.
He
listed 42 road projects in Diobu, Borikiri, Ogbunabali, Isiokpo,
Elele-Alimini, Omoku, Igwuruta-Chokocho, Chokocho-Rumukrusi, Ulakwo
II-Afara-Nihi, Eneka-Rukpokwu, Rukpokwu-Aluu among other road impacting
positively on members of the public.
The governor added that his
administration has revived the state’s secondary health care sector by
rehabilitating 13 general hospitals, while over 300 primary schools were
being renovated and equipped under the state Universal Basic Education
programme.
“His (Amaechi) anger is that I have been given the
name, Mr. Projects. I came to serve the people. You are comparing your
eight years with my two years.
“’My academic background cannot be compared with that of Amaechi. I have never had a poor grade.
“I
went to University of Port Harcourt, where I studied Political Science.
I went to Rivers State University, where I studied law.
“I went to Law School and I came out successfully,” said Wike.
