The political rivalry between former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has intensified as both politicians position themselves on opposite sides ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, now aligned with the opposition coalition, sparked the latest confrontation during a public lecture in Abuja titled "Weaponization of Poverty" marking his 60th birthday. He declared: "We are all hungry. All of us are. If you are not hungry, I am. So, for us the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power (Tinubu), we can remove him from this power."
In stark contrast, Wike has publicly pledged to lead President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign, despite his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike's Sharp Response
During his monthly media briefing on Monday, Wike dismissed Amaechi's claims of hunger, suggesting his former ally was merely "hungry for power."
"We have no time to listen to nonsense in Nigeria. I don't understand why a man like Amaechi would choose his 60th birthday to lie to Nigerians about being hungry," Wike stated.
He further questioned Amaechi's sincerity, recalling the former minister's extensive political career: "He was Speaker from 1999 to 2007, Governor from 2007 to 2015, and Minister from 2015 to 2023. He never spoke about hunger during those years."
Wike also referenced Amaechi's previous public statement from 2017 where he had claimed: "I am not corrupt and I don't like money. I am not one swayed by money."
Amaechi's Counterattack
Amaechi fired back during an Arise TV appearance, dismissing Wike as a "child" and recounting their earlier relationship: "I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. Adoke flew all the way from Abuja to Port Harcourt that Wike asked me to make him the Commissioner for Finance and I said no, he has to work under me so that I can supervise him."
He added, "I'm saying this because I don't want to join issues with children. You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself a minister. He made himself local government chairman."
The History of Their Rivalry
The rift between these two Ikwerre politicians dates back to 2012. Amaechi, from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Council Area, and Wike, from Rumueprikon in Obio/Akpor Local Council, were once close allies. Amaechi is credited with appointing Wike as a local council boss, Chief of Staff, and later nominating him as minister during former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.
Conversely, Wike reportedly stood by Amaechi during his political challenges, particularly when former President Olusegun Obasanjo opposed him. Wike was instrumental in the legal battle that secured Amaechi's return as Rivers State governor through a Supreme Court ruling.
Public Reactions
The exchange has drawn reactions from various quarters. Former presidential spokesman Reuben Abati criticized Wike for being "rude and disrespectful" to Amaechi, whom he described as Wike's "boss in politics."
In response, Wike's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, rejected the notion that Amaechi was Wike's political superior, stating: "When Amaechi was a House of Assembly member, Wike was a Local Government Chairman. When Amaechi ran to Ghana in 2007, Wike was in Nigeria, leading the charge to retrieve Amaechi's mandate."
Activist lawyer Maduabuchi Idam offered a different perspective, suggesting that the conflict is fundamentally about "the struggle for dominance and resource control" rather than ideological differences. "Call them today and share the resources of Rivers people amongst the two of them, you will see them unite against another third party who would want a share from them," Idam told BenriNews.
As the 2027 elections approach, this renewed rivalry between two of Rivers State's most influential politicians signals the beginning of what could be an intense political battle, with significant implications for both state and national politics.
