In a fiery exchange that has reignited their long-standing rivalry, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has accused former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi of using Nigeria’s economic hardship as a smokescreen for his political ambitions.
Wike took aim at Amaechi following remarks made during the latter’s 60th birthday celebration, where Amaechi lamented the worsening hunger and economic challenges facing the country.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike described Amaechi’s “I’m hungry” declaration as disingenuous—a veiled expression of political ambition rather than genuine concern.
“Amaechi is not hungry for food; he’s hungry for power,” Wike asserted. “This is a man who held public office uninterrupted from 1999 to 2023—from Speaker, to Governor, to Minister. For 24 years, he never once raised concerns about hunger. Now that he’s out of office, suddenly he finds his voice?”
Wike questioned Amaechi’s motives, accusing him of trivializing a critical national issue and exploiting it for political gain.
“It insults struggling Nigerians to hear someone who has benefited immensely from the system turn their pain into a political slogan,” he said. “From serving as Buhari’s campaign director to now aligning with the Atiku camp, he keeps switching sides—all in a desperate bid to stay relevant.”
Amaechi’s original comments had expressed frustration with the nation’s economy, stating:
“We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am… In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”
Wike, however, took strong exception to those remarks, calling them misleading and potentially dangerous.
“Let them form whatever coalition they want, but let them start with Rivers State,” Wike challenged. “You said Nigerians are hungry—what did you do about it when you were in power? And what do you mean by ‘remove him from power’? Is that a veiled threat? Is that how democracy works?”
Reaffirming his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, Wike described himself as a political “asset” to the current administration.
“People may dislike me, but I’m no liability. I’m an asset. And I stand solidly behind President Tinubu. The difference is, I deliver results. I don’t just talk.”
Both men are former governors of Rivers State and have been embroiled in a protracted political rivalry for over a decade. Amaechi served as governor from 2007 to 2015 before becoming Minister of Transportation under President Buhari, while Wike succeeded him and rose to national prominence as governor and now as FCT Minister.
Their latest war of words is widely seen as a prelude to intensified political jostling ahead of the 2027 elections.
