Thursday, June 5, 2025 - Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed recent criticisms from Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing him as a “child” unworthy of serious engagement.
Amaechi who was a guest on Arise TV on Tuesday, June 3,
addressed Wike’s reaction to his earlier remarks about rising hunger and
hardship in Nigeria, made during his 60th birthday celebration.
Amaechi had expressed concern over the worsening economic
conditions and questioned Nigeria’s direction as a nation.
He further criticised the country’s elite and questioned the
productivity of Nigeria’s economy.
Reacting to Amaechi's comment, Wike in a media chat on
Monday, opined that Amaechi’s comments were “politically motivated,” accusing
him of being “hungry for power” rather than genuinely concerned about the
plight of Nigerians.
“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
During his interview on Arise TV, Amaechi firmly rejected
Wike’s claims and emphasized that his rise to power as governor was not
facilitated by Wike but by divine intervention, legal processes, and the will
of the people.
“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 clarified that he had intentionally appointed Wike
as Chief of Staff during his administration, rather than Commissioner for
Finance, to keep him under closer 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.”
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