FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has accused his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, of failing to attract tangible development or political empowerment to Rivers State despite spending 24 years in top public offices.
Wike made the allegation on Friday during an interactive session with leaders and stakeholders of Evo Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He challenged the people to identify any major development Amaechi brought to the area during his years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor and Federal Government minister.
“Someone was speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years, governor for eight years, and minister for eight years – that is 24 years in top leadership positions!
“What can anybody point to that he was attracted to Evo Kingdom or Rivers State in all those 24 years? Nothing! Not one single thing!” Wike said.
The FCT minister contrasted Amaechi’s record with his own experience as a former Minister of State for Education.
“I was a Minister of State for Education, and as I sit here, I can count the projects I brought to Rivers State and my people,” he said.
Wike questioned how a politician who, according to him, spent 24 years in influential positions could claim to have empowered his people without producing new leaders.
“How can someone who spent 24 years in power without empowering his people or raising new leaders now turn around to tell you he loves you?” he asked.
The minister also reiterated his pledge to resign from office if President Bola Tinubu loses Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike spoke while rallying political stakeholders in the state behind Tinubu ahead of the election.
“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back here not for what I will get, but for what I will be to raise my people,” he said.
He urged political actors to put aside old grievances and work towards what he described as the collective interest of the people.
“There is no permanent enemy in politics; what we have is permanent collective interest. It is all about the interest of our people,” Wike said.
He also defended his open-door approach to former political opponents, urging his supporters not to be distracted by criticism on social media.
According to him, political strength depends largely on the ability to build a broad support base.
“Leadership is like a wastebasket. If you cannot absorb things, both the good and the bad, then you cannot be a true leader,” he said.
Wike further called for an all-inclusive campaign structure across Obio-Akpor ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Whether you are a politician, whether you are a traditional ruler, whether you are a pastor, or whether you are a native doctor, I need everybody now,” he said.
“For the purpose of voting and elections, we must bring everyone together.”
The latest remarks deepen the political confrontation between Wike and Amaechi, who is now the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election. Amaechi recently said he would resign if Nigeria failed to begin witnessing significant changes within one year of an ADC administration taking office.
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