Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed recent criticisms from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing him as a “child” unworthy of serious engagement.
Amaechi, speaking as a guest on Arise TV on Tuesday, June 3, responded to Wike’s reaction to his earlier remarks on the escalating hunger and hardship in Nigeria, comments he made during his 60th birthday celebration.
During that occasion, Amaechi expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions and questioned the nation’s trajectory. He also criticised the country’s elite and questioned the overall productivity of the Nigerian economy.
In response, Wike, during a media interaction on Monday, accused Amaechi of making “politically motivated” comments, alleging that Amaechi was “hungry for power” rather than genuinely concerned about Nigerians’ welfare. Wike added, “When he was Minister of Transportation, he never spoke about hunger. Now that he’s out of power, he suddenly remembers the people.”
Rejecting these claims firmly during his Arise TV interview, Amaechi emphasized that his ascent to governorship was not due to Wike but to divine intervention, the judiciary, 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 stated.
Amaechi also clarified that he intentionally appointed Wike as Chief of Staff rather than Commissioner for Finance during his administration, to keep him under close watch. “When Mohammed Adoke came to Port Harcourt and requested I 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 explained.
Taking a further swipe at Wike’s political career, 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.”
