Wike-Sponsored Group Accuses Amaechi Of Spending Rivers Funds On National Politics

A socio-political group in Rivers State, Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI), reportedly bankrolled by Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has accused Governor Rotimi Amaechi of being wasteful with the resources of the state. Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, secretary of the group, Wonosike Samuel, picked holes in Mr. Amaechi’s recent speech on “Reform and Resource Governance in Nigeria”, at Chatham House London, saying it was full of his usual rhetoric on the achievements of his administration in the state. GDI implored Governor Amaechi to accept the fact that his first tenure in office was successful largely to the contributions of Mr. Wike, who was Chief of Staff then in Government House. “It is unfortunate that Amaechi is still talking about his achievements in the first four years of his administration where it is obvious that Chief Nyesom Wike was the Chief of Staff who helped him in achieving all those successes he had when he was in office,” Wonosike claimed. “Remember that it was Nyesom Wike that guided Amaechi. He (Amaechi) has not done anything in this tenure. He is spending our money on national politics”. The group also urged the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to effect the immediate arrest of rights lawyer, Ken Atswuete over the statements credited to him on the death of the First Lady’s foster mother, Madam Charity Oba. Information Nigeria recalls that Mr. Atswuete, a rights lawyer based in Port Harcourt, had blamed President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure in governance, which he said is evident on the poor state of the East/West road, for the death of Mrs. Oba. But reacting to the statement, Bright Amaewhule, President-General of GDI, said Atswuete should be interrogated and punished accordingly.