A Socio-Political group, Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI, has refuted the allegations of corruption made against the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike by the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Sampson Parker.
President General of GDI, Bright Amaewhule said the Commissioner for Health was only trying to save his integrity after being allegedly used by Governor Amaechi to embezzle funds.
Parker had signed a press statement accusing Wike of having ill-gotten wealth.
The Commissioner said the Governor had provided affordable and quality health care for the people of the state and accused Wike of fabricating stories aimed at tarnishing the image of Amaechi.
He went ahead to accuse Wike of owning properties that could not match his earnings, adding that the Minister lacked the moral right to accuse anyone of corruption.
According to Parker, “Wike has been in public service all his adult life. There is no record that he has worked anywhere either as a lawyer or as a business man, yet Nyesom Wike has properties in Port Harcourt valued at over N5,000,000,000 ( five billion naira ).
“Wike’s private residence in Asokoro, Abuja, is said to be worth at least ₦1,000,000,000.00 (One billion naira).
“How did the minister of state for education acquire that kind of property?
“How can a man who has never managed a private company in his life afford tens of cars, which he doles out to his supporters? Did he sponsor some of his supporters to the world cup in Brazil with his salary as Minister? How many years did he save money to sponsor these people to Brazil?
“Wike should tell Nigerians who pays for his favorite brandy, Louis XIII, which costs at least £5,000 (five thousand pounds) or ₦1,400,000 a bottle?
“I shall give 50% of my August salary to Wike or anybody who can prove that the Minister has traveled to Port Harcourt on a commercial flight more than two times since being sworn in as Minister of state for Education.
“Honour must be given to whom it is due. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has done extremely well in conceptualizing and provision of affordable, free qualitative health care to Rivers people.
“I am proud to have served as his Commissioner for health since the inception of this administration”.
However, GDI, a group floated by the Minister condemned the allegations saying that Wike’s wealth was from years of hard work and not corruption.
“Parker is only trying to save his face. Where is the Karibi Whyte hospital? The structure does not exist and the money for it has been released.
“Wike is a qualified lawyer; he successfully passed through the University and Nigeria Law school and later served under Emmanuel Ukala in his chambers before he was elected Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Council.
“Parker was begging money from Wike when he was a Council Chairman. Parker was a nobody and had nothing. He was a mere Laboratory assistant at the psychiatric hospital at Rumuigbo.
“Wike does not have any car manufacturing company neither does he dole out cars as claimed by Parker. He does not consume any drink worth N1,400,000. As a matter of fact, how did Parker know the price of such a drink if he does not take it.
“They are merely giving Wike a bad name. Wike is a man with great reputation and outstanding character. Today he is adjudged the most performing Minister of Education”, Amaewhile responded.
Comments