Wike challenges Amaechi’s record in Rivers State

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike challenged former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi to identify projects or political empowerment Amaechi brought to Evo Kingdom or Rivers State during his years in public office, saying he could point to none. Wike made the accusation Friday at a meeting with Evo Kingdom leaders and stakeholders in ObioAkpor, Rivers State. Wike said Amaechi held senior political positions for 24 years: eight years as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and eight years as a federal minister. He asked residents to name developments Amaechi had secured for the kingdom or state, and said there were none. The remarks were Wike’s assessment of Amaechi’s record; the meeting accounts did not provide an independent inventory of projects or a response from Amaechi. Wike contrasted that record with his own time as Minister of State for Education, saying he could identify projects he attracted to Rivers State. He also argued that political leadership should be judged by whether officeholders empower others and establish institutions and successors able to sustain development after they leave office.