Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, questioning the continued lack of respect he receives from his political protégé.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Amaechi challenged Wike to test their popularity by walking with him from Abuja to Port Harcourt without security escorts.
He said, “Let the Minister of the FCT come, let’s take a walk from the airport to Port Harcourt, no police, no army, nothing, just the two of us.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t respect people like us; I am older. I brought him up in politics. Who is he?”
Amaechi warned that dwelling on Wike could distract the opposition from the real issues ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
“If the opposition continues to focus on him, we would be distracted from making the people know that this 2027 election is between the people — there’s no party, no ADC, no ADA, not this — versus Tinubu’s government,” he said.
When asked why he stayed silent during the feud between Wike and Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, Amaechi said his decision not to intervene was deliberate.
“Why should I intervene? Did you see the outcome? Don’t you get impressed by my reaction, that at the end of the day, somebody has surrendered?
“At the end of the day, you can see the looting going on in the government,” he said.
Amaechi also confirmed that he had officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Yes, I did. I think it was on Tuesday. I’d already transmitted my letter to the ward chairman.
“So, I directed one of my staff from my village to convey the letter to the ward chairman that I have left the party, if there was any party called APC, by the way,” he said.
Amaechi, who governed Rivers from 2007 to 2015, was succeeded by Wike, who also completed an eight-year tenure before President Bola Tinubu appointed him FCT Minister in August 2023.
During his 60th birthday celebration, Amaechi stated he was “hungry” and open to aligning with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s coalition to defeat President Tinubu in 2027.
In response, Wike mocked his former boss, insisting that Amaechi’s hunger was for power, not food.
“I don’t know why a man would choose his 60th birthday to tell lies. It’s unfortunate. Of all times, on your 60th birthday when people are celebrating you?
“He was (Rivers State) Speaker from 1999 to 2007. He was the most pampered speaker. He became a governor from 2007 to 2015. Eight years as Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, and eight years as governor, he never talked about hunger.
“He became a minister from 2015 to 2023, eight years as a super minister of transport. When he was borrowing money (for projects), he didn’t talk about hunger.”
