ASABA/Nigeria: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has voiced scathing criticisms over the appointment of Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister.
Chief Eze contends that the appointment lacks sound reasoning and is laden with potential for settling personal vendettas, particularly through actions aimed at undermining property rights within the FCT.
In a statement released to the media, Chief Eze expressed alignment with the widespread belief that the appointment may serve an ulterior motive. He suggests that the presidency might be entertaining the possibility of a rerun election, during which Wike’s alleged election rigging skills could be leveraged to sway the process in favor of President Bola Tinubu, potentially helping him meet the required 25% threshold in the FCT, a crucial benchmark to avoid election nullification.
Beyond these concerns, the APC chieftain raises alarm about Wike’s history of aggressive land acquisition during his tenure as Rivers Governor. He highlights instances where Wike allegedly coerced landowners into surrendering their properties, effectively amassing a significant portion of the state’s landmass for personal gain. Chief Eze asserts that Wike’s past behavior should disqualify him from holding such a position of authority.
Chief Eze’s critique extends to Wike’s governance record, branding his eight-year tenure as Governor as marked by wastefulness, disappointment, alleged corruption, and neglect of critical sectors. He challenges the narrative of Wike’s accomplishments, contending that infrastructural projects were marred by inflated costs and dubious funding sources. He further contends that public funds were misappropriated, including through building flyovers using federal refunds meant for other projects.
Additionally, Chief Eze calls attention to Wike’s alleged mishandling of public funds, such as his withholding of pensioners’ gratuities for eight years. He argues that Wike’s governance left a trail of economic stagnation, with Rivers State failing to attract foreign earnings or investments during his administration.
Furthermore, Chief Eze lambastes Wike’s appointment as an affront to Nigeria’s efforts to restore its electoral image on the international stage. Citing a purported European Union Election Observatory report on the 2023 elections, he alleges that Wike’s actions and behavior during the election process were not in line with the country’s reputation.
Concluding his critique, Chief Eze asserts that Wike’s appointment contradicts the requirements of effective governance and development for the FCT. He opines that the capital city needs a visionary leader capable of driving economic growth, rather than someone who may undermine its reputation and attractiveness to investors.
