Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has challenged immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to point out a single project he attracted to the state while serving as a minister.
Wike made the comment on Thursday at the state Government House in Port Harcourt, when he signed more contracts agreement with Julius Berger, including for two new flyovers.
He also spoke about which party produces his successor, wishing the All Progressives Congress and other political parties vying for the governorship in the state bad luck.
According to Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Sim Fubara, is going to be the next governor of Rivers State in 2023.
He said, “It is certain Fubara is the next governor. He is taking over from me. It is PDP that will win the state. All who want to run in other parties I wish them bad luck. I don’t understand why they would want to waste their money on running for governorship in this state. What will they tell the people?
“What will the former minister (Amaechi) tell them (Rivers’ electorate) that he brought? I was a minister. As I sit here, I can count what I brought as Minister of State to Rivers. So, you were the main minister of the lucrative ministry. What did you bring to Rivers? Not one thing, not one.
“Now they removed you (Amaechi), you now want to come and bring somebody as governor. It will not happen. Rivers’ people will not take it. We won’t agree. God has been on our side and I know God will continue to be on our side.”
On the latest contract awarded to Julius Berger at a period he has limited time left in his administration, Governor Wike said that he would transfer no liability to his successor either in the shape of debt on loans taken by his administration or uncompleted projects.
He called on the contractor to ensure it completed the projects on schedule with the assurance to complete payments with a monthly N2 billion released.
The governor also used the occasion to commend the victorious Rivers United Football Club, winners of the 2021/22 Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, announcing a reward of $20,000 cash and a Governor’s Medal Service Award for every team member as well as a two weeks trip to Madrid, Spain, for the team as part preparation for the CAF Champions League.
He equally promised the team he would double the league victory’s cash reward for them if the team scales through the knock-out stages of the CAF Champions League.