Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed comments made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stating that he will not reduce himself to childish exchanges.
Amaechi’s response came after Wike mocked his 60th birthday remarks, where Amaechi mentioned experiencing hunger. Wike ridiculed the statement, claiming the former Rivers State governor was not hungry for food but for power.
“We don’t have time to entertain nonsense in Nigeria,” Wike said. “Why would Amaechi use his 60th birthday to lie about hunger? From 1999 to 2023, he was either Speaker, Governor, or Minister. He never spoke of hunger until now. It’s not hunger for food—it’s hunger for power. He joined Atiku and claimed hunger after failing to deliver even 25% for Buhari as campaign DG.”
Responding in an interview with Arise Television, Amaechi reminded Wike that he had once served as his chief of staff and was therefore politically subordinate.
“Whether he likes it or not, I was his boss. I appointed him. I could have said no. I became governor by the grace of God, the support of Peter Odili, the judiciary, and the people of Rivers State—not because of Wike,” he said. “I won’t engage in immature arguments.”
Amaechi was addressing Wike’s long-standing claim that he was instrumental in making him governor. In 2021, Wike stated, “God used me to make Amaechi governor. He even said so in church. But then he went on national television to call me his employee. That wasn’t funny, but I let it go. I led the group that made him governor. Afterward, he sought my advice and offered me the finance commissioner role, which I declined in favor of remaining chief of staff.”
Amaechi flatly denied that narrative, insisting Wike never made him governor and never received an offer to be finance commissioner.
“Ask him how he supposedly made me governor. I appointed him chief of staff so I could supervise him. He wasn’t offered commissioner of finance. Wike always tries to make himself everything—chief of staff, governor, minister, even local government chairman,” Amaechi stated.
He also took a swipe at Wike’s political conduct, accusing him of immaturity and damaging public discourse.
“There’s no respect for family names anymore. People say and do anything without shame,” he said.