Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Federal Government of shielding the minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi from prosecution over alleged misappropriation of proceeds from the sale of state assets.
The governor said it is disingenuous for the Federal Government to flag off narrow gauge railway from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri at a time when the rest of the world is building standard gauge railway.
Mr Wike stated this during the commissioning of 6.1km long, 7.3m wide Omuihuechi-Omuoko-Omokiri link road in Aluu Ikwerre Local Government Area on Wednesday.
The governor said it is appalling that the Federal Government has continued to protect Mr Amaechi from prosecution over his alleged inability to account for $308 million from the sale of the state-owned power plant and other assets when he was governor of Rivers State.
Wike noted that it is because the Federal Government is protecting the minister that he has consistently made efforts to undermine the state government by influencing who is to be posted as commissioner of police and general officer commanding of the Nigerian Army to Rivers.
“People gave you opportunity. You sold our property, everything. And people are talking in this state because of the government that says they are fighting corruption and protecting people. You (Amaechi) sold our property for $308 million and kept for us $208,000. That is the kind of people parading themselves in government, for a government that says they are fighting corruption, shame,” he said.
The governor further said the proposed University of Transport in Ubima area of the state was deceitful because Amaechi lacks the capacity to see the project through.
