Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, describing him as a “political liability” with no electoral value in Rivers State or the wider South-South region.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike questioned the rationale behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—considering Amaechi as a running mate, suggesting that such a choice could only be driven by financial considerations rather than voting strength.
“If you are choosing a Vice Presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi, may be financial because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes.
Backing his claims with historical election data, Wike pointed out that Amaechi has failed to secure significant votes in Rivers State across multiple election cycles despite holding high-profile positions.
“He has never won a presidential election after 2011 when I was the Director of Campaign. Never! He was the Director-General of Buhari in 2015 when he was governor; why did he not get 25%?
“He was the DG in 2019 when he was a Super Minister; why did he not get 25%? He supported Atiku in 2023; how come he didn’t get 15%?” Wike queried.
The FCT Minister defined a true political asset as a former governor who retains followership and can point to tangible achievements delivered to his state during his tenure in federal office.
He challenged Amaechi to present the direct benefits his leadership brought to the people of Rivers State and the South-South region.
Wike further accused the former Transportation Minister of political inconsistency, noting that Amaechi had previously criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries as corrupt and irregular, only to turn around and participate in or benefit from the same system.
“This was the same man, just one month ago, who said the APC primary is manual, irregularity, and corruption.
“How can we talk about removing a government that we are saying there is no election, and then we are in another election?
“The same man now is benefiting from the corruption, from irregularities of the same system,” he said.
Reiterating why the region would reject Amaechi’s national ambitions, Wike highlighted past political decisions, including Amaechi’s open opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan—a fellow South-South indigene—during his 2015 re-election bid, as well as his perceived role in the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
“A South-South person wanted to go for a second term. You were proud you kicked him out. Now, will South-South be happy for you to be Vice President?
“You think that people have forgotten?” Wike asked, adding that the electorate in the region would demand accountability for these actions.
Contrasting his administration’s track record with that of his predecessor, Wike highlighted major infrastructural developments in Rivers State, such as the Bonny Road project, arguing that the state has received unprecedented federal attention under the current political dispensation compared to previous administrations.
“Never in the history of Rivers State, from 1999, of those who claimed to be very close to the President, have we had the type of attention that Rivers State has now.