Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi to account for funds allegedly spent on major projects initiated during his administration.

Mr Wike questioned the whereabouts of the Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, a 1,000-bed hospital which he said Mr Amaechi had promised to build.

“He said he was going to build a 1,000-bed hospital and he was going to name it Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital. He paid out 39 million U.S. dollars. 39 million U.S. dollars,” he said.

Mr Wike spoke on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council and leaders and stakeholders from Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Rivers State.

He challenged Mr Amaechi to explain what happened to the project and the $39 million allegedly paid for it.

Mr Wike also questioned the former governor over the state monorail project, saying N68 billion had been spent on it.

He asked, “Now, he went to Dubai and he saw a monorail and he came back. Today, where is the monorail? Who spent 68 billion dollars? All of you who are here, ask him the question. Where is the monorail today?”

Mr Wike subsequently corrected the figure in his remarks, referring to the expenditure in naira.

He said he would vote for Mr Amaechi if the former governor could account for the funds spent on the project.

Mr Wike also questioned the spending on an anti-malaria fumigation programme during Mr Amaechi’s administration.

“And there were no mosquitoes. And we spent 10 million U.S. dollars. Ask him whether mosquitoes have not bitten anybody again,” he said.

He further alleged that Mr Amaechi constructed primary schools in riverine communities but said some of the schools had subsequently been submerged.

Efforts by Peoples Gazette to reach former governor Rotimi Amaechi for his response were futile, as SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to his phone number remained unanswered as of press time.