The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged his predecessor and former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to give a full public accounting for multi-billion naira projects executed during his administration as Governor of Rivers State.
​Wike thrown down the gauntlet on Saturday afternoon, October 3, 2026, during a grand political stakeholders’ meeting in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State. Speaking directly to a crowd of community leaders, party faithful, and residents of Ekpeye land, Wike questioned the utilization of state resources under Amaechi’s 2007–2015 governorship tenure.
​Addressing the audience at the venue, Wike singled out three major initiatives, demanding transparency regarding the financial expenditures.
The Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital; Wike questioned what happened to the $39 million paid towards the uncompleted hospital project.
Rivers State Monorail Scheme: Expressing dismay over the controversial light rail project, Wike noted that over N68 billion was expended without delivering a functional transit system for the state.
Wike criticised an anti-malaria initiative executed with consultants from Cuba, alleging that over $10 million (N10 billion equivalent) was spent on mosquito control with no tangible benefit to residents.
​”Ask him about the $39 million spent on the hospital that was never built. Ask him about the N68 billion monorail project, where is the monorail today? Ask him about the $10 million anti-malaria project with people from Cuba. Have mosquitoes stopped biting people in Rivers State?” Wike stated.
​Beyond project accountability, Wike scrutinised Amaechi’s overall political footprint in Ekpeye land and Rivers State. Wike pointed out that despite serving eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly (1999–2007), eight years as Governor (2007–2015), and eight years as Minister of Transportation (2015–2023), totaling 24 years in high public office, Amaechi left no significant infrastructure or political empowerment in the region.
​Wike also addressed Amaechi’s recent public appearances, including an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where Amaechi criticized the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Wike admonished the former governor for bringing private family grief and political rhetoric into national discussions surrounding economic reform.
​Efforts to reach Amaechi or his political media aides for an immediate response during the event were unsuccessful. However, allies close to the former minister have historically maintained that the monorail and hospital projects suffered due to political transitions and lack of continuity by subsequent administrations.
​When contacted for further comments following the rally, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to the FCT Minister, confirmed Wike’s statements, emphasizing that public officials must remain accountable for their records regardless of how much time has passed.
​The political feud between the two former governors continues to shape the political landscape of Rivers State as regional stakeholders gear up for future electoral contests.
