In a blistering broadside that reignites one of Nigeria’s most storied political rivalries, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lambasted the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, branding him “a child” and firmly debunking claims that Wike played any significant role in his rise to power.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday evening, Amaechi spared no words as he delved into the lingering rift between himself and his estranged political protégé-turned-opponent, Wike.
> “Let’s get something clear—nobody made me governor. It was God, Dr. Peter Odili, the Nigerian judiciary, and the good people of Rivers State. Not Wike. Not anybody else,” Amaechi thundered.
The former Rivers State governor was reacting to Wike’s recent swipe at him, where Wike dismissed Amaechi’s comment about Nigeria’s worsening hunger crisis, alleging that the ex-minister was not hungry for food but for political relevance.
But Amaechi wasn’t having it. He pushed back hard, rejecting Wike’s narrative and questioning the media’s failure to scrutinize such lofty claims.
> “As a journalist, has anyone ever asked that man who claims he made me governor: ‘How exactly did you make him governor?’ No one asks the tough questions,” Amaechi fired.
He revisited the landmark legal battle that resulted in his emergence as Rivers governor in 2007, crediting his victory to the courts—and not any behind-the-scenes political engineering by Wike. He noted that his lead counsel at the time was Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)—now Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
> “I went to court. My lawyer was Lateef Fagbemi, now AGF. You can ask him. The truth is Wike played no legal, political, or divine role in that victory,” he asserted.
Amaechi further revealed an intriguing behind-the-scenes power play: Wike, emboldened by Amaechi’s victory, allegedly lobbied aggressively to be made Commissioner for Finance in Rivers State. But Amaechi said he was wary of giving him such sweeping control over state funds.
> “Mohammed Adoke flew in from Abuja to Port Harcourt to push for Wike to be made Finance Commissioner. I said no. I didn’t trust him with that level of autonomy. I made him Chief of Staff so I could supervise him directly,” Amaechi disclosed.
In a scathing remark loaded with sarcasm, Amaechi ridiculed Wike’s self-aggrandizement.
> “Wike made himself everything—he made himself Chief of Staff, made himself Governor, made himself Minister. Let it end there. Please, don’t go further,” he quipped.
Then came the most stinging rebuke of all:
> “I don’t want to join issues with children.”
Amaechi reminded viewers that, despite Wike’s later rise to political prominence, the power dynamic between them has never changed in his eyes.
> “He was my subordinate. I was once his boss, whether he likes it or not. I appointed him. I could’ve said no. Just because we’ve both held certain offices doesn’t make us equals,” Amaechi said bluntly.
To cap it off, Amaechi reeled out his political résumé with a subtle dig:
> “Yes, I was Governor. He became Governor. I was Minister. He became Minister. But don’t forget—I was also Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. That’s something he’s never been.”
The war of words between the two political heavyweights appears far from over. But one thing is clear: in this verbal shootout, Amaechi is not backing down—and he’s drawing blood.
PIONEER NEWS 