…As Fubara unveils Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Nigerians against entrusting political power to individuals he accused of mismanaging public funds, citing alleged financial irregularities during the administration of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

This is as the State assembly positions were shared between the members of All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) with the APC receiving the majority of the slots.

Wike accused Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation and running mate to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of misappropriating funds.

He spoke on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at the unveiling of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, an alliance of six political parties formed to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Wike said the coalition was intended to unite political parties behind Tinubu rather than create divisions, insisting that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country had agreed to support the president.

“I have said, and let me reiterate, that the Rainbow Coalition means no harm, but to bring people from all the various political parties together to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Wike, who described himself as a national leader of the PDP, said the party’s National Working Committee had endorsed the arrangement, adding that members in Imo, Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara, Ogun and other states were expected to support Tinubu.

He also dismissed claims of a factional leadership in the PDP, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recognised Abdulrahman Mohammed as the party’s national chairman.

The FCT minister subsequently criticised the ADC’s presidential ticket, particularly the prospect of Amaechi serving as vice-president under Alhaji Atiku Atiku.

“Attaching Rotimi Amaechi as a vice-president worsens the ticket. It is important to show your report card,” Wike said, challenging the former governor to account for projects and transactions undertaken during his eight-year administration from 2007 to 2015.

He alleged that Amaechi spent $10 million, equivalent to about N14 billion at the exchange rate cited, on a mosquito eradication programme but failed to eliminate the problem.

Wike also alleged that $39 million, estimated at N53 billion, was spent on the proposed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital after the existing facility was demolished, yet no foundation had been laid for the new hospital.

On the state’s monorail project, he said about N68 billion was spent, but the project remained incomplete.

The minister further questioned the sale of the Omoku gas turbine for $308 million in December 2014, alleging that only $308,000 remained in the relevant account when he assumed office in May 2015.

Wike said a judicial panel of inquiry established by his administration had indicted Amaechi over the transaction, adding that the findings were upheld by the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He challenged the former governor to account for the proceeds of the sale.

He urged Rivers residents to consider the records of political officeholders before supporting their bids for higher office, arguing that public funds should translate into tangible development.

Wike also called on members of the coalition to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Rivers State, including those contesting governorship, National Assembly and state assembly seats.

He warned against attempts to create divisions within the alliance, insisting that the political parties had agreed to work together in the interest of the state and Tinubu’s re-election.

The minister announced that the coalition would hold its governorship campaign flag-off rally on November 7 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta, Rivers State, expressing confidence that the event would attract a larger turnout.

Earlier, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara unveiled Hon. Kingsley Chinda Ogundu as the APC governorship candidate under the Rainbow Coalition, alongside other candidates drawn from the six parties in the alliance.

Fubara urged his supporters to stop referring to him as the state’s political leader, declaring that the FCT minister remained the leader of the political movement.

“We are aware that we have issues with people who followed me during the crisis, calling me their leader. I am no more the leader. My oga, the General Overseer, GO, is our leader,” he said.

Kingsley Chinda pledged to run an inclusive government that would accommodate people across political parties, religions and ethnic groups.

“We are no more divided in Rivers State. There is no more winner-takes-all in Rivers politics. Our number one candidate in the Rainbow Coalition is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Under the coalition’s reported sharing arrangement, the APC secured two senatorial slots, while the PDP received one. For the House of Representatives, the APC was allocated 10 slots, including one associated with Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule, while the PDP received three. The other parties were allocated no House of Representatives slots.