The Rivers State Women Association of Nigeria (RIVSWAN) has condemned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for allegedly making baseless claims against former First Lady of Rivers State, Dame Judith Amaechi.
The group, through its Acting President, Ichechi Welendu, was reacting to a recent claim made by the FCT Minister on a national television programme, where he alleged that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was paying Dame Amaechi N4 billion monthly to train Niger Delta women.
Chief Wike claimed that NDDC was paying Dame Amaechi N4 billion monthly to train Niger Delta women, a claim RIVSWAN described as “unwarranted and malicious”.
RIVSWAN in a statement condemned Wike’s claims as, “Baseless falsehoods driven by bitterness, ignorance, and a worrying lack of self-restraint”.
The group called on the general public to disregard what it termed, “A concocted story fueled by personal vendetta and misinformation.
“The entire allegation is not only laughable but an embarrassment to public discourse.
“It reflects either a gross misunderstanding of the NDDC’s budgetary structure or a deliberate effort to smear the name of a respected woman of substance, ” Welendu said.
The group demanded that Wike present documents backing his claims or withdraw the statement, warning that failure to do so could lead to, “Legitimate actions, including peaceful protests across Rivers State”.
RIVSWAN reaffirmed its support for Dame Amaechi, describing her as a pillar of progress and a matriarch of the Rivers women’s movement who has contributed significantly to the development of Rivers State.
RIVSWAN highlighted Dame Amaechi’s philanthropic work through the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), which has supported girl-child education and women’s empowerment in the Niger Delta region.
The group urged President Bola Tinubu to caution Wike, saying his, “Unguarded utterances are unbecoming of a federal cabinet member”.
