The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, threatened to expose the alleged corruption of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
* Rotimi Amaechi And Nyesom Wike
Speaking in his house in Port Harcourt, during a visit from chiefs from the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs in Ogu/Bolu Local Government Area of the state, Wike, described the state governor as a corrupt politician, whom he would expose at the appropriate time.
He pointed out that the governor was not as transparent and devoid of corruption as he made the people to believe.
It would be recalled that last week, governor Ameachi, while accusing the minister of breaking an oath between them, blasted him, and said, he was only playing to the gallery as well as shying away from matters that would transform the state.
"Governor Amaechi is not as transparent as he claims to be. He wants Nigerians to see him as a social crusader, who is always ready to expose and criticise officials and agencies of the Federal Government at any given time" Wike said. "He is not a saint. Governor Amaechi knows that I know he is corrupt and he knows that I know him very well. Most people forget that I was Governor Amaechi’s Chief of Staff for four years; from 2007 to 2011. Most people also pretend to forget that I was also Governor Amaechi’s Director of Campaign for the 2011 governorship election. So, I can conveniently claim to know Governor Amaechi more that most people. I will expose Governor Amaechi at the appropriate time. I will expose the level of corruption in his government at the appropriate time. Governor Amaechi’s aides know that I am not unaware of the shady dealings in his administration. I challenge him to speak up".
The minister alleged that Amaechi sponsored some persons to cause confusion and disaffection among the members of the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he claimed was aimed at jeopardizing the party's chances in the 2015 polls.
"I wonder why Governor Amaechi is so interested in the affairs of the PDP after he made fanfare of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 25, last year" Wike said.
Responding, Tony Okocha, Government House Chief of Staff refuted the minister's claims and condemned him for discussing persons instead of concentrating on matter that would transform the state.
"How come the minister, who was Governor Amaechi’s campaign director in 2011 and who spoke so glowingly about the governor’s achievements, is now the one splashing mud on the same man he eulogised a few years back?, We will not join issues with Wike. We understand his politics and we are not perturbed" Okocha said.
Ibim Semenitari, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications also denied the minister's allegations, noting that he was only playing to the gallery.
"Wike is just playing to the gallery. I don’t expect the minister to be playing dirty politics" Semenitari said. "Governor Amaechi has challenged the minister at several fora to show evidence, if he has any, to justify his assertions that he (Amaechi) is corrupt. It is unfair for the minister to make a blanket assertion that Governor Amaechi’s government is corrupt. I think the minister’s comments are uncharitable, indeed".
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