How Amaechi Embezzled Proceeds From Sales Of Rivers Aircraft, Power Projects -Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, of embezzlement of proceeds from the sales of the state aircraft and power stations.
He has, meanwhile, offered to resign from office, if Amaechi can mention any federal project he has attracted to Rivers State as a minister since 2015.
Wike stated these at the formal defection of two former chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ikanya, and Hon. Igo Aguma, as well as other chieftains of the opposition to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
The governor explained that Amaechi, who was his predecessor, had claimed that he sold a Dash 8 aircraft purchased by former Governor, Dr. Peter Odili administration to Government of Cross River at the cost of $6million, but has failed to account for the proceeds of the transaction till date.
Similarly, the governor disclosed that through intelligence, the state government was able to trace a second aircraft belonging to the state government that was also purchased by the Odili-led administration to Germany, where Amaechi had clandestinely diverted it to in 2012.
Wike said Amaechi’s reign in office as governor was characterised by financial malfeasance.
To buttress this, the governor maintained that the $308million paid by Sahara Energy to acquire the state independent power projects was diverted by the minister.
In addition, he said that Amaechi had spent $39.9million of state funds on non-existent, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Hospital in Port Harcourt.
The governor, who cited several projects he attracted to Rivers State while he was minister of state for education under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, challenged Amaechi to emulate him by reviving the moribund Port Harcourt seaports in order to create employment opportunities for Rivers’ youths.
Wike explained that but for his intervention, the former commissioner for urban and rural planning, Dr. Reason Onya, who recently defected to the APC, would have been charged for murder following his indictment by a judicial panel of inquiry that investigated a multi-storey building that collapsed in Port Harcourt, and claimed several lives in 2018.
In his remarks, the state PDP Chairman, Amb Desmond Akawor, said that the defection of Dr. Davies Ikanya, Hon Igo Aguma, and others marked the formal interment of the opposition party in Rivers State.
Narrating his reason for leaving the APC, which he founded in Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ikanya, explained that he could not, with good conscience, remain in a political party that was built on deception.
According to him, all the expectation that the APC would provide security, create employment opportunities and better life for Nigerians have turned out to be a mere mirage.
Ikanya, who remains the only elected chairman of the APC in Rivers State, said it was regrettable that the party has been hijacked by persons who place their personal interests far above the party.
He used the occasion to apologise to the governor and the people of Rivers State for introducing the APC to the state, which has been peacefully governed by the PDP since 1999.
On his part, the immediate past caretaker committee chairman of APC, Hon. Igo Aguma, accused Amaechi of brainwashing him and others to join the APC.
He called on the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to immediately investigate the finances of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2016 and 2019.
Aguma called for the prosecution of Amaechi for the mismanagement of over $317million allegedly spent on 1.5-kilometre now abandoned monorail.
APC chieftains who defected to PDP, along with the duo include Chief Ogbogbo Nnamdi; Hon. Isobo Jack (former caretaker chairman, APC); Barrister Paul Nwankwoala (former APC legal adviser); Hon. Faaye Franklin; Chief Andy Nweye (pioneer spokesperson of APC); Hon. Alamese Martins-Yellow; Hon. Ilamabo Mirila; Dr. Moore Oja-Chinda; Hon. Benibo Anabraba (former minority leader, Rivers State House of Assembly); Hon. Alphine Whyte; and Hon. Wisdom Wakama (former minority leader, Rivers State House of Assembly).