[BREAKING] Rivers: Drama as Amaechi Dedicates Major Award to Wike

Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, has announced the dedication of an award given to him to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi, a two-term governor of Rivers, dedicated the award to Wike, who is also Amaechi’s successor in the state because he did not abandon the College of Medical Sciences of the Rivers State University (RSU).

When did Amaechi serve as a minister?

Recall that Amaechi served as the minister of transportation under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari and he had initiated the College project during his reign as Rivers governor but was unable to complete it before the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

Wike, who succeeded Amaechi as Rivers governor, continued the project up to 2018 when the institution matriculated its first set of medical students.

Leadership reported that on Thursday, February 6, Amaechi dedicated the award to the FCT Minister and commended him for his continued efforts on the college project.

When did Amaechi and Wike’s rivalry start?

Amaechi and Wike as strong political rivals in the current Rivers state politics. The two political gladiators in Rivers state parted ways when the former dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was a founding member.

Since 2015, Wike and Amaechi have been at war of words and remained political enemies to each other. In a dramatic turn, Amaechi dedicated the award to his top political enemy in Rivers state politics.

The award was given to Amaechi by the college’s management during the induction of its first set of graduates who were inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

Why was Amaechi given an award

The former minister was recognised for his contribution to the development of education in the institution and as the initiator of the College of Medical Sciences during his time as Rivers governor.

The acting Registrar of the institution and Chief executive officer of MDCN, Dr. Fatima Kyari, in his address, expressed appreciation to the former governor for starting the Medical College at Rivers State University. She expressed her belief in the health sector renewal initiative.

Addressing the newly inducted medical doctors, Kyari noted that the ceremony was the beginning of another journey into medical practice.

EFCC urged to arrest Amaechi

Concerned Democrats, a coalition of pro-democracy groups, made the call in a statement sent to Legit.ng, on Tuesday, February 4.

The group threatened to storm the EFCC office if the anti-graft agency did not open the file of the former minister within the next 72 hours.