I Won’t Engage Child in War of Words – Amaechi Wipes Wike

Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has made it clear that he refuses to lower himself by exchanging verbal barbs with the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

During an interview with Arise Television yesterday, Amaechi emphasized his political seniority over Wike, recalling their time in government.

“I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no,” he stated firmly.

The spat follows remarks Amaechi made at his 60th birthday, where he candidly said he was “hungry,” aligning himself with the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

In response, Wike accused Amaechi of seeking attention, claiming his hunger was not for food but political power. “He is not hungry for food. He is hungry for political power,” Wike asserted.

Wike also reignited an old claim from 2021, insisting that he played a pivotal role in Amaechi’s political rise.

“I was the one God used to make Amaechi governor. I will even give you a tape from what he said in church; that after God, I’m next. 

"But he went on national television to say that I was his staff, his employee. It wasn’t funny, but I said no problem,” Wike said.

“We all sat to make him the governor and I was the one who championed it. How do you call someone who made you governor an employee? 

"Even after he became governor, he sought my advice on how to run his government and offered me commissioner of finance but I rejected the offer because I wanted to be the chief of staff.”

But Amaechi pushed back against that narrative, denying Wike’s involvement in his emergence as governor.

“God, Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people made me governor,” Amaechi stated. “Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”

He explained that his decision to appoint Wike as chief of staff rather than commissioner for finance was strategic.

“I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children,” he said.

Amaechi also took a jab at Wike’s apparent self-aggrandizement.

“You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”

Furthermore, the ex-transport minister criticized what he called a decline in political decency and respect for family legacies.

“There’s no more respect for family names. People just do and say anything,” he lamented.

Amaechi contrasted his time in office with Wike’s, noting that he had completed several flyovers without making a show of it. 

He also expressed dismay over the dilapidated state of his former administration’s projects.

“It distresses me when I see those projects vandalised,” he said.