TheCable

Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has said that Nyesom Wike became governor of Rivers state by the accident of former president Goodluck Jonathan.

Amaechi said this in reaction to Wike’s insinuation that he is angry over his title of ‘Mr Project’.

Wike had also alleged that commissioners and local government chairmen in Rivers paid the former governor’s wife, Judith, on monthly basis.

Speaking during an inspection programme at the Kaduna Dry Port on Tuesday, Amaechi said his wife is a trader and that none of his family had access to government while he was governor.

He said it is Wike that has made government his family business and also threatened to expose the wife of the Rivers governor if he does not stop talking about him.

“By accident of Goodluck Jonathan, I don’t want to attribute it to God, but by the accident of Jonathan. My wife and family, including my younger brothers and sisters, no one had access to government when I was governor,” he said.

“Even as minister, nobody will have such because it is not a family business. It is government business. But the problem with Nyesom Wike, and I want you to state this if he doesn’t shut up his mouth and do his work I will bring his wife to the focus. You see I’ve been very matured not to talk about his wife.

“But if Wike does not close his mouth and talk about my wife anymore, I will bring out his wife. My wife will never do such, we don’t do family business. I care about transparency. My wife is a trader. She buys and sells and Wike knows that.”

Earlier, the minister said that the federal government will establish dry ports or inland container depots (ICDs) in the country to create jobs for unemployed youths and diversify the economy.

“We are doing everything possible to create jobs. Whatever we need to do to get the port running, we will do it,” Amaechi said.

“The rail will soon start running before the end of the year, which will be used to deliver goods at the port.

“Everything is set for commissioning because we have the land, warehouse and all but we want to wait for the completion of the roads.

“We want to wait for more activities in the dry port before we get the president to commission it.

“I have visited Jos and they are doing a good job and they promised to be ready by June. I have visited Kaduna and what I have seen is commendable.”

Amaechi commended the Kaduna state government, saying “the job it is doing is very good”.

He said the contributions from the government were high, adding the support was appreciated.