The wife of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Judith Amaechi, says the attitude of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is allegedly making Nigeria unattractive to foreign investors.
Mrs Amaechi alleged this while responding to claim by Wike, that at a point she was corruptly receiving N4bn monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
In a statement released by her media aide, Dr Dike Bekwele, the former Rivers first lady accused the FCT Minister of lying and other bad behaviours that have the capacity to undermine Nigeria’s image internationally.
“His (Wike’s) uncouth and uncultured attitude is capable of undermining and under-marketing the nation’s effort at attracting foreign investors,” Mrs Amaechi said.
The statement also comprised of these: “Our attention has been drawn to a live television interview wherein a wild and unfounded allegation of corruption was made against Dame Judith Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) by Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“In one of his rather cyclic, hysteric, poor and recurring live television outings, Nyesom Wike, in his habitual manner, accused Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) of receiving N4bn monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC; a report that has jostled well meaning Nigerians and has elicited calls and inquiry about the veracity of this story.
“We would have ignored the minister’s ranting as it is a mere blackmail intended to undermine the reputation and integrity of Her Excellency and the ESI.
“It is, however, imperative to state the obvious in the interest of right-thinking Nigerian citizens.”
It continued: “For the records, and in debunking these falsehoods, we wish to dismiss the allegations as untrue and categorically state the following: There is absolutely no iota of veracity in the allegation made by Mr Wike against Dame Amaechi and the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI).
“Dame Amaechi did not and has never received N4bn from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
“The Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) was duly incorporated in 2011 as a non-governmental organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and it has secured partnerships and collaborations with a memorandum of understanding with development partners, including the interventionist agency, the NDDC.”
