The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has launched a sharp attack on his predecessor and fellow Rivers State politician, Rotimi Amaechi, following a recent comment made by Amaechi during his 60th birthday event.
Amaechi had made headlines last week when he said, “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power.”
He added that Nigerian politicians lack proper ideological beliefs, saying, “In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”
In reaction, Wike dismissed Amaechi’s comments as dishonest and self-serving. Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the FCT Minister stated that Amaechi is not speaking out of real concern for the masses, but out of a personal desire to return to power.
Wike said, “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 went on to remind Nigerians of Amaechi’s long-standing presence in public office, noting that he held major positions for over two decades — from Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 1999 and 2007, to Governor of Rivers State for eight years, and then Minister of Transportation from 2015 until 2023.
“Now they are regrouping. They are only hungry for power. This shows his failure. How can you trivialise the issue of hunger?” Wike said.
Wike also pointed out that Amaechi had joined forces with the opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, claiming they were united by hunger, not public interest. He stated that Amaechi’s inability to deliver electoral results in Rivers despite his high-level positions shows his waning influence.
“From 1999 to 2023, Amaechi stood before Nigerians and claimed hunger. He was a former governor who couldn’t secure even 25% for Buhari during elections, despite being the campaign DG,” Wike noted.
He further stated that Amaechi’s statements about “removing the man in power” carry dangerous tones, saying: “Let’s see how he plans to remove the president. Is it a military coup? The term ‘removal’ is synonymous with dictatorship or military coup.”
Wike concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his role in the current administration. “I am not a liability; I am an asset. You may dislike me, but I am an asset in ensuring President Tinubu wins a second term.”
