At a Rivers State political meeting, the FCT minister questioned Atiku Abubakar’s record in federal office and cited disputed project spending from Rotimi Amaechi’s governorship. The claims were not accompanied in the remarks provided by supporting documents or responses from the two former officeholders.
By A1NEWS International
RIVERS STATE
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi to account for aspects of their records in office, as political discussions intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Thursday at a Rainbow Coalition meeting in Rivers State, Wike questioned Atiku’s eight years as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, including his role in the federal government’s privatisation programme. He also raised questions about spending on projects during Amaechi’s eight-year tenure as Rivers governor.
Wike framed the remarks as an argument for voters and political stakeholders to scrutinise the records of presidential aspirants. However, the figures and allegations he cited require supporting records and responses from those concerned before they can be independently assessed.
Wike questions Atiku’s record as vice-president
Atiku served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007 under Obasanjo. Wike described him as a powerful vice-president with responsibility for privatisation and asked what lasting impact Nigerians could identify from that period.
“Atiku was vice-president from 1999 to 2007. How many years? He was not just a vice-president, but a very powerful vice-president. He was in charge of privatisation and everything concerning companies and industries owned by the government,” Wike said.
He urged Nigerians to evaluate Atiku’s record in public office, rather than focus only on the former vice-president’s repeated bids for the presidency. Wike also referred to Obasanjo’s reported criticism of Atiku and said the former president’s assessment of their relationship should inform public scrutiny.
The remarks did not detail which privatisation decisions Wike considered unsuccessful, nor did they provide an assessment of their outcomes. Atiku’s response was not included in the account of the meeting.
Amaechi’s tenure and project spending questioned
Wike also challenged Amaechi to explain the outcomes and spending associated with three initiatives from his time as Rivers governor, from 2007 to 2015.
He cited an alleged $10 million expenditure on mosquito control, $39 million for a proposed specialist hospital and ₦68 billion for a monorail project. He also questioned the handling of proceeds from the reported sale of a gas turbine in December 2014, which he said was sold for $308 million.
“Where is the $308 million? Where is the $39 million? Where is the N68 billion? And where is the $10 million for fumigation?” Wike asked.
The figures and questions were presented as part of Wike’s political criticism. The remarks, as provided, did not include contracts, payment records, project audits or other documents establishing the amounts, the status of the projects or the disposition of the turbine-sale proceeds. Amaechi’s response was not included.
Minister calls for scrutiny of political claims
Wike argued that voters should judge political aspirants by their performance and accountability in public office, rather than by campaign promises, emotion or party loyalties.
He also questioned whether the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which Amaechi has joined, could offer a convincing alternative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Wike said Amaechi’s entry had complicated the party’s presidential ticket, but did not provide details of the party’s internal selection process at the meeting.
Community leaders seek further development
Earlier, Chimereze Nworgo, identified as a zonal director of the Post Primary Schools Board, praised interventions he associated with Wike’s time as Rivers governor. He cited the Ogbia–Nembe Road, improved connectivity, a model secondary school and recognition of traditional institutions.
Nworgo also commended Wike’s support for Ogbia representation at the national level, including Ambassador Desmond Eji Akawor. He appealed for further road construction and rehabilitation, a general hospital, school renovations, youth employment and empowerment, and more political appointments for Ogbia indigenes.
He said the community’s political support for Wike did not mean its development needs had been fully met, but reflected its willingness to continue engaging with him.
Location clarification: The account of the event identifies the meeting as taking place in Oyigbo Local Government Area, while the welcome address refers to Ogbia Local Government Area. The discrepancy should be clarified before publication.Wike’s remarks put the records of Atiku and Amaechi at the centre of a political argument over accountability ahead of 2027. The claims about privatisation, project spending and turbine-sale proceeds remain questions raised by the minister; assessing them fully would require documentary evidence and responses from the former officeholders.
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