The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rotimi Amaechi

  • FRSC calls for infrastructure adjustment in Abuja

    FRSC calls for infrastructure adjustment in Abuja

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says some infrastructural adjustments are needed in Abuja to support the proposed introduction of bicycle transport in the nation’s capital city.

    The Corps’ Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

    Kazeem said the plan also required amendment of the National Road Safety Regulations to include provisions for the safety of cyclists.

    He spoke against the backdrop of the recent announcement of the proposed bicycle policy by the National Council on Transportation ( NCT ) after its 15th meeting in Sokoto.

    “As a pilot scheme, if Abuja is taken, there is need for restructuring of some intersections before we can kick start it successfully.

    “FRSC studied all the road networks in Abuja, and we have identified the gaps and recommended measures to address the.

    “During the study, which we carried out with officials of the FCTA (Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), we found out that all roads and streets have provisions for bicycle lanes in the design, but at the point of construction the lanes were either ignored, merged with pedestrian walkways, making the walkways too wide, or were turned into green areas.

    “I think it is only on Yakubu Gowon Way in Asokoro that the lane is being implemented. So, a key concern is the need for re-engineering of intersections and traffic lights to provide for cyclists.’’

    The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who made the announcement after the NCT meeting, had said Abuja was chosen as pilot because it already had cycling facilities.

    Amaechi stated that introduction of bicycle transport would reduce road traffic congestion and environmental pollution as well as improve the health of riders among other benefits.

    Speaking in the same vain, Kazeem said that the FRSC would work with other stakeholder for its successful implementation of the policy.

    “In fact, FRSC commenced the promotion of urban cycling since 2011; it is not new to us. Since then we have built collaborations and established and funded the National Stakeholders Committee for four years running comprising all government agencies relating to transport, private sector and unions for four years running.

    “The committee developed the first draft National Cycling Policy, which could not be approved by the previous administration owing to bureaucracy.

    “We commenced the national bicycle week and hosted three editions. We have understudied different countries’ cycling systems for domestication, and we have studied all the road networks in Abuja which is the pilot.

    “So, it is a welcome development and the policy announcement actually came as a result of a presentation that the FRSC made at that council of transport summit.

    “For us, the announcement by the ministry confirmed our several years of advocacy and drive to make cycling a mode of transport.

    “We are ready and we are going to work with other stakeholders to see to the success of this policy.’’

    Kazeem stated that cycling was already part of the FRSC public education programmes.

    NAN recalls that eight officers of the Corps recently underwent training in the Netherlands, the world leader in cycling, in traffic safety for non-motorised transport with cycling as focus.

    Some experts also came from Netherlands to train about 24 other FRSC officers, and officials of the Federal Ministries of Power, Works and Housing; Transport, and the FCT Administration.

    The FRSC spokesman said the Corps was working to duplicate the training across its formations nationwide.

  • Ministry of Transportation pilots bicycle riding in FCT

    Ministry of Transportation pilots bicycle riding in FCT

    Ministry of Transportation says the National Council on Transportation has approved the commencement of a ‘bicycle riding’ project, as a means of transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi told newsmen at the end of the National Council on Transportation on Monday in Sokoto.

    He said that the introduction of bicycles as a means of transportation would reduce congestion on the road and also improve the health of the riders.

    “National Council on Transportation is a policy making Council, if nothing else; we approved that we should do a pilot project on bicycle riding in FCT.
    “This is because Abuja is the only city that has facility for bicycle riding.

    “For other states who want to do it, we must provide facility before they can proceed with it; we want to separate them from the roads because some motorists are impatient.

    “So, we decided that we do it in Abuja because if you check, nearly all the roads in Abuja, there are lanes for bicycle.

    “Any other state that wants to go ahead can do that but they must provide lanes for bicycle so that we do not have numerous accidents,” he said.

    He said that using bicycles as a means of transportation was not new adding that countries including in China, UK and others already using it.

    Amaechi, who described the project as an investment, said it would also help in exercise and reduction in the number of passengers using other forms of transportation including cars within the cities.

    Commenting on other project, he said that the ongoing rail projects would really boost the economy.

    According to him, the Lagos-Ibadan railway construction would need about 150,000 workers before its completion.

    “Construction alone that is going on between Lagos-Ibadan would really boost the economy.

    “The railway work that is going on there will need about 150,000 workers and when it is done, the business it would generate would help employ people.”

  • How Buhari’s administration plans to tackle poverty, by Ikpeazu, Amaechi, Dakuku

    How Buhari’s administration plans to tackle poverty, by Ikpeazu, Amaechi, Dakuku

    Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Director General of the National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, on Friday outlined how the current administration plans to take the nation out of poverty.

    The trio spoke in Abuja during a symposium on “The New Economy and Its Impact on the Less Privileged Citizens,” organised by The Osasu Show (TOS), a television programme anchored by Miss Osasu Igbinedion.

    During a panel discussion on ending poverty and bridging the inequalities gap through infrastructure development and social protection mechanisms,  the Abia governor said the greatest problem in Nigeria is social mobilization and social engineering.

    He noted that the populace was no longer on the same page with the government both at the state and national level.

    He said Nigerians don’t spend a lot of time to look for peculiar solutions to their peculiar problems in the Nigeria environment.

    He said: “It is with this background that in Abia State, we decided to encapsulate our pillars of development around the things we can do very well – trade and commerce. You can’t talk about trade and commerce without mentioning Abia, Aba, Abriba, and all my people.

    “You must also realise that we are good in the things we can do with our hands – small scale manufacturing, shoe production, garment making and all that. But education is also important.

    “Our emphasis has been to create wealth for our people, using the avenue that they know already and we have been emphasising Made-in-Aba as a means of creating wealth and drawing relevance and growing the confidence of our people.

    “And of all our efforts in the campaign, we have attracted almost N2 billion by direct sales to the average Aba person in terms of production of military shoes and all those kind of things.”

    Amaechi said until the current dispensation, Nigeria was not producing anything other than corruption.

    Before the commencement of the current administration, he said Nigeria was importing tomatoes, with over $3 billion spent on the importation of chicken and $2 billion on fish.

    In order to alleviate poverty in the country, the minister said the federal government had to diversify the economy and also come up with the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

    Dakuku said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was an affirmation that Nigeria was facing a peculiar challenge and if nothing was done about it, the country would be endangered.

    He identified infrastructure as one of the critical ways of ending poverty.

     

     

  • Ticket racketeering: Amaechi sacks Station Manager, Ticket Seller

    Ticket racketeering: Amaechi sacks Station Manager, Ticket Seller

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has ordered the removal of Station Managers, Ticket Sellers and Porters at Idu and Rigasa train station.

    The affected people are allegedly responsible for extorting money from passengers on Business Class.

    Passengers have in the last six weeks complained of extortion by Porters whose role is to carry luggage.

    The fare which is N1500 is usually doubled by Porters and others who are yet to be identified.

    The Minister who spoke during an inspection of activities at Idu and Kubwa Stations in Abuja Friday however expressed optimism that their removal would address the menace and restore passengers’ confidence.

    He also said the arrival of more coaches would help address the lingering issue.

    A Porter, Peter was also arrested at the Idu rail station for ticket racketeering.

    Amaechi said: “Passengers complained on social media and when I discovered that the complaint lasted for over four weeks, it showed that it is not a lie and that is why I have come to check.

    “I think the best thing to do is to remove the ticket sellers in Idu and Rigasa and also remove the Station Manager at Rigasa and let’s hope that would address it.

    “The Porter services should also go and those who they help to carry luggage should carry their luggage themselves. We would soon fix the elevator to make it easy for passengers to carry their luggage.”

    On the status of the Train, he said: “The fact that the train itself is dirty means you people are not doing the right thing because passengers complained on social media that the toilet is bad and they want me to fix it.

    “You know Nigerians are human beings and whenever the system fails, it is because the person in charge of the system has allowed it to fail and that would not happen under my watch.”

    He also said members of the public are suggesting that the operation of rail system be concessioned.

    “The emphasis from the public is that we should concession it so that they can take over. When concessionaires put their own money, things would run well because there would be multiple coaches and it would increase competition.

    Narrating how they extort money from passengers, the Manager of Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, Pascal Nnorli said: “We have been hearing cases of ticket racketeering for the past six weeks from high profile Nigerians and the management decided to set up a team to get to the root of the matter.

    “Those behind this act sometimes lie to passengers that there is no more ticket. This morning, I came as early as 5am and I disguised as a passenger because they don’t know me and I called one of the Porters by the name Mr. Peter and I told him I wanted a first class ticket.

    “After a while, he called one Abass who seem to be their ringleader and he agreed to sell it for me at the rate of N3000 as against the N1000 that is sold at the ticket office. At the end of the day, I gave him N3000 to procure one for me and he did.

    “Now that we have gotten him, he will take us to Abass who will help us with our investigation by telling us who gives him the ticket”, Nnorli said.

     

  • Hope rises for indegenes as Amaechi visits Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Lines

    Daily,one thing that has always dominated the mind of the Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is the quest to deliver on the assignment entrusted to him by President Muhammadu Buhari

    Amaechi’s zeal to ensure that Nigeria is ranked one of the best in the transportation sector is already receiving accolades from both political watchers and key  stakeholders  across the country.

    The urge by Amaechi to provide the much talked about ‘change’ by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) spurred Amaechi’s visit to one of the Rail projects started in far back 1987.Since then, after it was awarded not much had been done by successive governments to complete a project which has cost tax payers millions of naira . The project sites had since become a habitat for wild life and all manner of dangerous animals alike.

    Before now, for the local dwellers of the ancient Agbor town in Delta State,the project was already dead and forgotten.For them,they believed that such a project would never see the light of the day until this life fades away,yes,it was as bad as that.

    But hope was however restored when President Muhammadu Buhari took over office in May 2015, with the appointment of Amaechi as the transportation minister.

    Due to the economic importance of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line,the Federal Government issued a directive to the Transportation Minister to ensure the completion of the project. This directive by the Federal Executive Council warranted Amaechi and his team to visit the project site which money was disbursed to the contractor last year December as confirmed by Amaechi himself.

    But with the presence of the top government functionaries at the project site, the local dwellers could not hold back  their views about what they think concerning the long abandoned project. Mrs Oghenegewe, a local farmer, was of the view that Amaechi’s visit was a sign of good things to come.

    She said: ” See let me tell you, I may not be educated but certainly I am aware of what is happening in the polity.We have never had a serious Government in Nigeria but with the level of sincerity and commitment demonstrated by the President Muhammadu Buhari government I can authoritatively tell you that this project is good to go. This project may have been abandoned the truth is that the present leadership will rescue it from rot.

    ” We have been praying for this country so that we can have a better government and i am optimistic that this government in power holds good things for us,we are earnestly praying for the quick recovery of our President and we know God will see him through.”

    For Mr Jackson , a retired staff of the Nigerian Railway Cooperation(NRC, the commencement of the project will bring about job opportunities for the teeming unemployed.

    Briefing reporters after the tour, Amaechi  said the projects are in two different phases. Amaechi also confirmed Government readiness to deliver on the project.

    According to the minister,” There are two phases of the contract, the first was awarded in 1987. We have a directive from the cabinet that we must complete the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line and it was included in this year’s budget. By the end of December last year we had disbursed money to the contractor ;Julius Berger and others to commence work , so we have come to see how far.We are constructing bridges too in order to reduce contact with human beings who would try to cross the track. This is a speed lane and once it starts it is going to be 120 to 150 kilometers per hour and the chances of killing human beings are going to be higher than Narrow Gauge because it is a Standard Gauge.

    “Julius Berger was handling the project before  but they said they cannot continue because they had demobilised and taken all their equipment back to France.”

    Amaechi acknowledged that insecurity was a threat to contracts particularly in the Southsouth. ” Part of the contract includes security. The problem we have with contracts in Nigeria, especially in the Southsouth area is basically security. If the contract is worth N10 million, we must set aside another N5 million for security. This project was started by February but it stopped in April because they kidnapped a staff of Julius Berger and they said they won’t work unless we provide for their security. The Rail Line will run through Kogi and Delta,this is called a Central Line and it is economic belt because this is where we have solid mineral activities. We are also ensuring that commercial activities are done,we are also looking for funds to connect Itakpe to Abuja and by that we can do both Freight and Passenger Services,” Amaechi explained.

    • Okpara ,an aide of the Transportation Minister sent this piece from Abuja
  • PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    Rumours on the President’s health were debunked again yesterday.

    He is not confined to a chair, Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation in London on Sunday. The Presidency released the photograph of the meeting and a short story on the visit. After a brief silence, the critics returned to action yesterday, insisting that the President is gravely ill.

    Al-Makura was in the delegation led by APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Also on the visit were Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

    Al-Makura said the President was “agile, mentally alert” and brainstormed on state matters for about an hour with the delegation during the meeting at the Nigerian House in London.

    He described those doubting the photograph of the meeting as being “comical”.

    The governor, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent shortly after returning from London, said: “The President is fit enough to return anytime.”

    “We did not only visit the President, we walked, we sat down with him and we fraternised the way we used to do. He was not confined to any chair or any place.

    “The President was really looking himself and very healthy. He was very alert, very concerned about the country and he was abreast of the latest issues in Nigeria. He has information on everything going on in the country.

    “He maintained his agility, his strength, his wit and the alertness of his mind. As far as I am concerned, the President can come back anytime from now. He is fit to return home.”

    Al-Makura said: “For about an hour, we brainstormed on a number of issues, especially about national interest and the unity of this country. We spoke generally on how to handle issues or policies that will enhance the quality of life in this country.

    “The President also tried to find out how each state was doing from the governors on the trip. And he asked questions from party leaders and all members of the delegation.

    “After a long session, we ended up on the dining table where we feasted with the President.”

    On the allegation that the trip was a make-believe, Al-Makura said: “Anyone can embark on wishful thinking. I was a member of the delegation and I have told you the truth about the way we met and interacted with the President.

    “The onus is on who alleges to prove otherwise. Whoever says we didn’t go is casting aspersions on our integrity. This is really unfortunate. We have no cause to lie to Nigerians. I just came in this morning and I have all my travel documents intact.

    “I am surprised that anyone could say that we didn’t see the President. It makes me appreciate the extent to which a person can go comical.”

    Leading the critics is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has faulted the approach adopted by the APC and some government functionaries in communicating with Nigerians about the President’s health.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent in Abuja, PDP spokesman Dayo Adeyeye chided the delegation, saying they were not being fair to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said if the President was indeed well as shown to Nigerians, the APC delegation ought to have got from him audio and video messages to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said, “For God’s sake, President Buhari was elected to represent about 200 million Nigerians and they are circulating just one photograph without any word from the leader.

    “That is not the right way to treat Nigerians who have been feeling the President’s absence from the country for close to three months. They are being unfair to the Nigerian people.”

    The opposition spokesman challenged the ruling party and its officials in government to do what others in the civilised world do in similar situations by providing detailed information on the President’s state of health.

    “The Presidency and the APC should learn to do the right. Nigerians deserve better treatment from a President they elected to run the affairs of their country.

    “It is very unfair to keep them in the dark concerning the health of the President only to be circulating just one photograph in the media for people who have been praying for the recovery of our President all this while”, Adeyeye added.

    Restating the commitment of the PDP to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the President, Adeyeye maintained that the opposition party sincerely wished Buhari well.

    “As a party, we have been praying for the President’s speedy recovery and we will continue to pray for his recovery because when it comes to matters of health, nobody is immune to illness.

    “But the Presidency and the APC should stop taking Nigerians for granted with the way they are handling issues around the President’s health. This is not the way to treat a President they elected to govern them,” Adeyeye added.

  • This Livingstone

    This Livingstone

    Stones do not have blood. So, they cannot have life. But when you come across a stone that is living, you have got to take extra look. There must be something about this Livingstone. I really thought there must be something when in 2015, Livingstone Wechie, the executive director of a hitherto unknown group, Integrity Group, stole into our consciousness. I assumed he was rich or his organisation had heavy grant from overseas to battle graft.

    Don’t blame me; when you open pages upon pages of newspapers and you see adverts on one single matter, the assumption is that the individual behind it must be rich. That was my thinking when Wechie’s adverts against Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi took several pages. I believed it was all a bid to stop Amaechi from being made a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, whose election he played a very critical role in.

    Time and questions here and there revealed that neither Wechie nor Integrity Group was rich. So, the poser was: Who was behind him? It was easy to assume who it was given the timing and the nature of the documents Wechie was churning out. They were stuffs he could not assess unless he was given.

    On Monday, Wechie was on Focus Nigeria, a programme on the African Independent Television (AIT). He rubbished the documents, which he made media organisations published against Amaechi. He said he was deceived into believing the documents were real.

    His recent outing reminds me of a day one of our correspondents in Port Harcourt called to tell me there was a full page black and white advert an activist wanted us to publish. I asked that the material be forwarded to my e-mail. The potential advertiser turned out to be Wechie. I read the copy and was just screaming. It was full of bile, libel and claims that can never be substantiated. I called the correspondent and let it be known that there was no way this newspaper would publish such an advertorial, even with all the money in the world.

    From the correspondent’s account, Wechie wanted it published that way or nothing. My response was: to hell. A day after, the correspondent called to say Wechie said we could edit it to a publishable standard. I edited out the bile and the libel and as I suspected, what I edited out was what the sponsors wanted and Wechie said we should not publish.

    Permit me to quote Wechie words on the source and credibility of the documents he caused to be published.

    His words: “We acted in 2015, believing that the documents used in fighting Rotimi Amaechi were true, being documents emanating from the Government. Time has played out, we have just realised that those documents were only politically fabricated just to fight and stop Rotimi Amaechi’s appointment.

    “I was the architect of Justice Omereji’s panel report that indicted Rotimi Amaechi in 2015. I drew the script, the report etc.

    “The only intention of Nyesom Wike’s government was to let the world know how bad this man, Rotimi Amaechi, was and leave it at that without prosecution, because they have nothing really indicting him. They have continued to ride on those wings to exhibit fiscal irresponsibility in government.

    “In the 8 years of Amaechi’s tenure, the Budget was a public document, but in this Wike’s government, no one government official, not even commissioners have access to the budget for these two years. Only a criminal hides Budget.

    “My joy is that I now have the opportunity to explain what actually played out in 2015 and still going on.”

    Hours after Wechie dropped the bombshell, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), an organisation to which he belongs, disowned him.

    “Mr. Wechie admitted in his live appearance that he told lies, on behalf of his Integrity Group and not on behalf of CLO. We therefore urge the relevant agencies to further investigate these lies and do the needful,” the group said.

    Wike’s media aide Simeon Nwakaudu also descended on Wechie. He described him as “the proprietor of Integrity Group of Companies”. He claimed Wechie struggled in vain to exonerate   Amaechi .

    “There was no time that Mr Wechie acted on behalf of the Rivers State Government or the governor. There was no need for the merchant of blackmail   to work for the administration, since he runs a private company.

    “Mr Wechie, himself, on his different television and radio appearances, stated unequivocally that he was not on the sponsorship of the Rivers State Government.  With the benefit of hindsight, the interviewers helped to keep everything in the right context. Whatever Livingstone Wechie said on Focus APC is unfounded  falsehood. His thoughts on the programme are the baseless concoction of a blackmail trader who hides under the cover of activism,” said Nwakaudu.

    My final take: Since Wike has dissociated himself from Wechie, can he show us evidence that the government is the source of the documents? Wechie needs to tell us who paid for those adverts. Was the Integrity Group buoyant enough to have paid for the publications? Was the fund from members’ contributions? Who and who are the members? Or did he get grants from foreign organisations to carry out his anti-corruption campaign, which, he said, he has since found out were propelled by forged documents?

    In his AIT outing, Wechie blamed everybody but himself. His excuse for the evil he did was that he was misled. I laughed and cried for this nation seeing a grown-up admitting lying on television and seemingly expecting the viewers to clap for him.  The way he carried on, he obviously expected to be decorated with a national honour. He needs to apologise, tell it all and seek forgiveness.

     

    Festus Adeniyi Keyamo and history

    The last time I saw him was in our newsroom. He came as part of his campaign activities for a political office. He recognised my face and hugged me. I am not sure he remembered my name. Festus Adeniyi Keyamo is not just a name to me. He was a good source in my early days in journalism.

    I remember the lengthy interview he granted me with which I crafted a mini-biography of him for The Source, where I cut my journalism teeth 18 years ago. The three-page publication occupied a space on the notice board of his then small law firm in the Maryland Business Plaza, which has now given way to Maryland Mall.

    Till today, a particular statement he made during the interview sticks: “I am hungry for history to record me.” History is sure recording Festus Adeniyi Keyamo, the Urhobo man with an Ilaro, Ogun State mother. He has been admitted into the enviable club of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He deserves it and more. I felt some form of personal loss when he was earlier refused the honour.

    Forget his foibles, Keyamo has made his marks. And I have a strong feeling that this country has not seen ten per cent of what Keyamo has in stock.

    Congrats to this man who once called me ‘agbalagbi’.

  • Ex-Rivers commissioners, LG chairmen defend Amaechi’s wife on Wike’s corruption allegation

    Ex-Rivers commissioners, LG chairmen defend Amaechi’s wife on Wike’s corruption allegation

    All the commissioners and local government chairmen that served when the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, was the Governor of Rivers State, have declared that his wife, Dame Judith, never asked them for money.

    The former commissioners spoke Thursday in Port Harcourt, through Fred Mbombo-Igwe, ex-Rivers Commissioner of Sports, while a former Chairman of Asari-Toru LG Council, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, spoke on behalf of the council chairmen.

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, had earlier said: “When I was Chief of Staff to Amaechi (between 2007 and 2011), all LGA Chairmen and Commissioners were paying N3 million and N2 million respectively to Amaechi’s wife monthly.”

    The transportation minister, in his response, however, described Wike as a liar, who should not be taken seriously.

    Amaechi said: “By accident of Goodluck Jonathan, I do not want to attribute it to God, but by the accident of Jonathan, the man (Wike) takes office and talks rubbish. My wife and family, including my younger brothers and sisters, no one had access to government when I was governor (of Rivers State). Even as minister, nobody will have such, because it is not a family business. It is government business. My wife will never do such. We do not do family business. I care about transparency. My wife is a trader. She buys and sells and Wike knows that.

    “If he (Wike) does not shut up his mouth and do his work, I will bring his wife (Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, appointed by Amaechi as a Judge of Rivers State Judiciary, when he was governor) to the focus. I have been very mature not to talk about his (Wike’s) wife. Do you believe Nyesom Wike is well? He (Wike) does not know how to speak English. He is poorly dressed. He is a thug.”

    The former Rivers commissioners and LG chairmen noted that the state’s governor, since his assumption of office, had a major agendum to tarnish the sterling reputation of the transportation minister, his erstwhile benefactor.

    The ex-office holders in Rivers said: “He (Wike) is bereft of ideas and unprepared for the task of governing a heterogeneous state like Rivers.

    “Wike, while serving as the Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, interfaced regularly with council chairmen. With this rare privilege, his avarice and his corrupt tendencies, he elected to commit a lot of fraudulent and sharp practices, including massive looting and various degree of financial extortion on the council chairmen and commissioners, who felt hapless due to his perceived closeness to the governor, as the chief of staff.

    “On many occasions, Wike, hiding under the subterfuge of his office as intermediary between the then Rivers governor and other elected or appointed public officials, made financial demands and extorted money from council chairmen, including armtwisting them to award contracts to him.

    “It is on record that many LGA projects then, including the new secretariat of Port Harcourt City Council and Etche Council, were done by Wike. Council chairmen and state officials were forced to contribute many millions of naira to Wike, under the pretext of fighting his legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), when he was arrested and tried for corruption. For the most flimsy excuses, Wike, as Chief of Staff, placed hefty levies on council chairmen. Failure to pay was usually met with stiff sanctions.

    “Wike is indeed morally bankrupt and cannot point accusing fingers at the wife of former governor Amaechi. In fact the then Chief of Staff to Rt. Hon. Amaechi gave stern directives to council chairmen never to support the activities of the wife of the governor.”

    Amaechi’s allies also stated that no commissioner or council chairman, either individually or as a group, was told, coerced, intimidated or persuaded to pay any money to the wife of the former Rivers governor, maintaining that no money was given to Dame Judith.

    They said: “Wike lacks moral rectitude. He is bereft of ideas and has no respect for his wife. Hence his shameful attempt to drag the name and reputation of the wife of his former boss into disrepute.

    “Wike is too economical with the truth and he is in fact a pathological liar, who should be ignored. His allegation is baseless, untrue and a figment of his warped imagination.”

    The former commissioners and LG chairmen who served in Amaechi’s administration also warned the Rivers governor against the “disgraceful and disgusting mischief” against the wife of the ex-governor, asking him to immediately tender an unreserved apology to Dame Judith or be ready to face the consequences.

     

  • Wike: I have been very matured – Amaechi

    Wike: I have been very matured – Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi yesterday denied allegations by Governor Nyesom Wike that he wasted Rivers State’s money when he was governor.

    He said contrary to the allegation by Wike that his wife and family were into government business, he said his wife was trader.

    The minister spoke in Kaduna after an inspection of the facilities at the Kaduna Inland Dry Port.

    He said: “They have a governor who is a child by accident of Goodluck Jonathan because I don’t want to attribute it to God but by whatever, he entered the office and starts talking about my wife and my family.

    “When I was the governor, nobody would have had access to any government business, not even my wife and siblings and even as minister nobody will have access to government business because it is not a family business but a government business.

    “The problem with Nyesom Wike and I want to say it clearly that if he does not shut up his mouth and do his work, I will bring his wife into focus.

    I have been very matured not to bring his wife but if Wike does not close his mouth and talk about my wife anymore, I will bring out his wife.

    On whether his wife collected any contract or money, he said: “My wife will never. We don’t do family  business. All I care about is transparency, my wife is a trader, she buys and sells and Wike knows that.”

    On the accusation that he squandered money, the minister said: “You believe that? The man who said I have $50 million in Lagos and could not prove it is the same man you believe? The man that said I didn’t pay salary until I left office and he later says no, it’s pension I didn’t pay? You believe such man?

    “First he doesn’t know how to speak English, he is poorly dressed and you bring me into focus with that kind of a man?

    “As usual he was given how many hours on television and they cut me off when I came and put disclaimer. The television station gave Wike all the opportunity to say the rubbish he has to say without facts. He has no facts and he was allowed to malign people’s character.”

    On the approval of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry by the court, he said: “How do we know how the court arrived at its decision? We were not given fair hearing. We were not even informed. There is a panel of Justices in Rivers State, which is the Court of Appeal and by the time we knew it, they took the matter from them and gave to a panel that came from Adamawa.”

    On the alleged clash between him and Senator Magnus Abe, he simply said: “I don’t know about that, only you know If I have problems with him.”

  • Abuja-Kaduna rail: FG to purchase four new locomotives in August

    Abuja-Kaduna rail: FG to purchase four new locomotives in August

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said on Tuesday that the ministry would purchase four new locomotives in August to enhance movement of goods and passengers along Abuja-Kaduna rail route.

    The minister said this at the sideline of the final inspection of the Kaduna Inland Dry Port in Kaduna.

    “The plan of the government is to ensure that the Abuja-Kaduna rail serve Nigerians better and movement be more regular.

    “By July, August we will introduce three to four other locomotives to enhance the service.”

    Amaechi pledged that government would make all rail lines in the country functional soon.

    “We know we are having challenges with the rail, the initial projection was that, we are going to deploy 100 locomotives to the country but when they made assessment of the entire narrow gauge in Nigeria they found out that even 70 was going to be too much.

    “But they have agreed to deploy 20 locomotives and 500 wagons, we are looking at some finishing touches before it gets to the cabinet for approval.

    “We are also making arrangement to also include coaches to serve Nigerians who do business and passengers between Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri.

    The Federal Government has concession the narrow gauge line in the country, to revive the rail sector.