The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticized his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, suggesting that the former Minister of Transportation has a “spiritual problem” due to his claims of not owning houses despite holding several top political positions.
Wike made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday night, responding to Amaechi’s claim that he does not own houses because he is not corrupt.
Wike countered the assertion, saying, “He said I have houses. Amaechi was Speaker for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years, and he does not have houses? Then he has a spiritual problem.”
He accused Amaechi of hypocrisy, alleging that the former governor owns a lavish property in Guzape, Abuja, and questioned the affordability of such a residence.
“Nigerians should know the kind of characters deceiving them every day, pretending.”
Speaking further, Wike said, “I will tell you about his house in Guzape here where I live. You need a bunker to destroy that house. I’m trying to show the quality, I’m not saying I would destroy the house. You can’t be a poor man and have such a house.”
He also questioned Amaechi’s financial transparency regarding his wife’s role as a contractor.
“He said he does not have this and that, where is his house? It’s in old GRA. Who built it? I heard him say NPA and NIMASA have not paid contractors, yes, because they have not paid his wife, who is a contractor.”
The latest exchange is part of a long-running political feud between the two former governors of Rivers State, Wike and Amaechi.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")