‘Stop your tales by moonlight’ - Amaechi rubbishes Wike’s allegations

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday described as bogus and ‘tales by moonlight’ the claim by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, about government expenditure in the state.

Wike had accused Amaechi of running the “most corrupt regime” in the country, alleging that the governor had, between January and November 2014, squandered over N298bn that accrued to the state from the Federation Accounts and loans obtained from various commercial banks.



The PDP governorship candidate also alleged that between December 2014 and January 2015, the governor, through the Government House and the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, expended N11bn believed to have been channelled to the Buhari Campaign Organisation.

But Amaechi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, said Wike’s verbal attack during his recent campaign rallies in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor were outright lies aimed at deceiving the public.

He said, “It (Wike’s claim) is a failed attempt to tarnish his (Amaechi’s) sparkling image. But he (Wike) should know by now that the people are not gullible and know that Wike is rather an embodiment of corruption and everything that is wrong with our country.”

The governor urged the people of the state and Nigerians in general to disregard Wike’s allegations, even as he described the former minister as a drowning man, desperate to score cheap political points by falsifying figures and spreading falsehood.

It read, “That Governor Amaechi run a transparent, accountable administration has never been in doubt. Everything about the income and expenditure of this government is in the public domain and have never been shrouded in secrecy. So, Wike’s ignominious attempt to dish out cooked figures will never fly.

“Is Amaechi a candidate in the governorship election? Why has Wike insisted on campaigning against someone that is not a candidate? Is Wike clearly telling the public that he is no match for the APC governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, and the only way to divert attention is to keep making wild, spurious claims?

“Of course, it is glaring that the All Progressives Congress candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, is by far, a better choice than Wike. The two can’t be compared in terms character, attitude, performance and achievements in public service.

“As supervising minister for education, Wike drove the Nigerian education sector to comatose. Universities and polytechnics across the country were on strike for months. He is known for squandering public funds on frivolous, selfish activities.”