A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has faulted claims by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, that his predecessor and former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is a total failure.
Recall that Wike, during the inauguration of the reconstructed former Riv-Bank Insurance building in Port Harcourt on Monday, had claimed that Amaechi failed to attract projects to Rivers State.
However, defending Amaechi in a statement on Thursday, Eze highlighted some of the achievements of the former minister under the current administration.
He noted that Amaechi released $400m of the $1Bn of the UNEP Fund to Ogoni allegedly blocked by Wike and former President Goodluck Jonathan from getting to the state between 2014 and 2015.
The former nPDP spokesman further stated that as the Minister of Transportation, Amaechi ensured the renovation of the Port Harcourt International Airport to an international standard.
Listing more, the party Chief said
Amaechi’s presence in the presidency restored the $10Bn NLNG Train 7, including some oil wells allegedly “ceded by Wike and his master (Jonathan)” to other states.
He said, “Wike should note that Amaechi was not appointed the Minister of Rivers State but a minister supervising 36 states and FCT whereas as a Governor, one has just his state to administer.”
According to him, Rivers people “know between Wike and Amaechi who did more as governor,” adding that “Wike is Amaechi’s first major product.”
Eze said the former minister was very frank in his choice of words at Alabo’s burial, noting that his opinion represents the voice of Rivers’ people.