Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make public the long-awaited forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), insisting that the document contains incriminating evidence against former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
During an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday, Wike boldly declared that he is willing to step down from his position as FCT Minister if the report is released and does not implicate Amaechi as he claims.
“I call on Mr President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC. If what I am saying is not in that report, I will resign as FCT Minister. I don’t worship office,” Wike said emphatically during the interview.
The FCT Minister, who has a well-known history of political rivalry with Amaechi, also made fresh allegations against Amaechi’s wife, accusing her of receiving huge sums from the NDDC under questionable arrangements.
“Amaechi’s wife was receiving N4 billion every month to train Niger Delta women. That is N48 billion in just one year. She was not an industrialist or qualified contractor, yet her company got those funds,” Wike alleged, suggesting massive corruption and abuse of public funds.
According to Wike, the highly anticipated audit report was deliberately suppressed by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in order to protect certain powerful individuals implicated in the findings.
“Malami killed the forensic audit to protect those involved. I’m saying, let Mr President do Nigerians a favour and release that document,” Wike stated, urging Tinubu to act in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Wike, who previously served as governor of Rivers State, did not stop at financial allegations; he also took a swipe at Amaechi’s educational background, describing his academic qualifications as “below average” and questioning his competence for public office.
Furthermore, he dismissed Amaechi’s recent claim that a Senator gifted him a Rolls-Royce. According to Wike, the luxury vehicle actually came from a contractor who was awarded nearly all major projects in Rivers State during Amaechi’s tenure as governor, implying that it was a form of kickback rather than a genuine gift.