Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has alleged that the Rivers
state PDP Governorship aspirant, Nyesom Wike, who is backed by first Lady
Dame Patience Jonathan, has been paying her a monthly allowance of
$1million just to gain favor from her. Governor Amaechi made the
allegation while speaking at a praise and worship session organised
by the Ikwerre Youth Movement and Ikwerre Women Forum at Isiokpo,
headquarters of the Ikwerre LoGA of the state
on Saturday Match 21st.
"Do you know that the PDP governorship
candidate, Nyesom Wike, has been giving one million dollars monthly to
the wife of the President, Mrs Patience Jonathan? He has been doing this
to gain political favour in the Presidency and to retain the favour” he said
But in a swift reaction, the spokesperson to Mr Wike, Simeon Nwakudu, said Governor Amaechi’s
allegation is false and accused him of using Rivers state money to fund APC presidential candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari.
“Our attention has been drawn to
another desperate press statement issued by outgoing Rivers State
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, where he falsely accused the Rivers PDP
governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, of paying the First Lady,
Patience Jonathan, one million US Dollars monthly. This allegation is completely false and
simply aimed at diverting the attention of the public from the
monumental corruption under Amaechi’s leadership. Wike has always been
an upright administrator and politician, who is committed to the
development of Rivers State and Nigeria. Wike has published documents of mass
corruption in Government House, Port House, and the entire Rivers State
Government under the guidance of Amaechi. The outgoing governor should
respond to these documentary proofs of corruption, rather than cooking
up false allegations to distract attention. Amaechi has wasted over N3tn that have
accrued to Rivers State, a large percentage of the funds being expended
on the sponsorship of APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, and
the APC.”