Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has responded to recent criticisms by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying he would not engage in public banter with “children.”
Amaechi made this statement during a live interview on ARISE Television on Tuesday, as tensions between the two political heavyweights once again came to a head.
“No one made me governor except God, Peter Odili, the judiciary, and the good people of Rivers State,” Amaechi said pointedly. “Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”
His remarks come in response to Wike’s accusation that Amaechi was being politically opportunistic by suddenly speaking on hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
Amaechi had earlier voiced his concerns during his 60th birthday celebration, where he lamented the state of the nation. “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am,” he said.
“For us in the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him. What is important is: how do we change this country?”
Wike had dismissed those remarks during a Monday media chat, suggesting Amaechi’s comments were disingenuous. “He is just hungry for power,” Wike retorted.
“He did not talk about hunger while he was in office. Two years after leaving, he suddenly finds his voice. How do you insult Nigerians and trivialize poverty and hunger?”
Amaechi, however, pushed back on Wike’s version of events and refuted claims that his political elevation was engineered by Wike.
Speaking on the matter, he stated, “He made himself local government chairman, he made himself governor, he made himself minister. That’s the kind of person we’re talking about.”
On Wike’s appointment during his administration, Amaechi clarified why he did not make him Commissioner for Finance.
“Mohammed Adoke came from Abuja and asked me to make him commissioner for finance. I said no. I made him chief of staff because I wanted him where I could supervise him closely. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. Whether he likes it or not, I was once his boss,” he declared.
