Rotimi Amaechi, who used to be Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation and Governor of Rivers State, has responded to recent comments made by Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Amaechi said he doesn’t waste time arguing with people he thinks act like children.
Amaechi made this clear during an interview on Arise TV on June 3. He was answering Wike’s reaction to what Amaechi said earlier during his 60th birthday. At the celebration, Amaechi spoke about the growing hunger and difficulties many Nigerians are facing.
During his speech, Amaechi showed concern about Nigeria’s worsening economy. He also asked if the country is really moving in the right direction.
He criticised Nigeria’s rich and powerful people, saying they have not done enough to help improve the economy or create real progress.
In response, Wike spoke to the media on Monday and said Amaechi’s words were only meant to gain political advantage. He accused Amaechi of wanting power rather than truly caring about Nigerians’ problems.
“When he was minister of transportation, he never spoke about hunger. Now that he’s out of power, he suddenly remembers the people,” Wike said
Amaechi firmly denied these accusations during his TV interview. He said Wike did not help him become governor — instead, he credited God, the legal process, and the people’s support for his rise
“God, Peter Odili, the judiciary, and the people of Rivers State made me governor. Ask him who made him governor. I won’t join issues with children,” Amaechi said.
He also revealed that when he was governor, he made Wike his Chief of Staff, not Commissioner for Finance, so that Wike would be under his watch and supervision.
“When Mohammed Adoke came to Port Harcourt and asked me to appoint him Commissioner for Finance, I refused. I needed to keep an eye on him, so I made him Chief of Staff. Whether he likes it or not, I was his boss. I hired him, and I could have said no,” Amaechi stated.
Taking a swipe at Wike’s political persona, Amaechi said
“He made himself everything—Chief of Staff, governor, minister, local government chairman. There’s no more respect for family names. People just say and do anything these days.”
