Former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stating that Wike did not make him governor and was instead a subordinate who he appointed as Chief of Staff to monitor closely.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday evening, Amaechi revisited the long-standing rift between him and his former political ally turned rival, Nyesom Wike.
In a fiery rebuttal, Amaechi stated that it was God, former Rivers State Governor Dr. Peter Odili, the Nigerian judiciary, and the people of Rivers State that made him governor—not Wike.
“The first thing I want to make clear is this: nobody made me Governor. It was God, Dr. Peter Odili, and the Nigerian judiciary—nobody else,” Amaechi declared.
His comments come in response to Wike’s recent jab, following Amaechi’s remark during his 60th birthday that “we’re all hungry.” Wike dismissed that statement, alleging that Amaechi was not hungry for food but for political relevance.
Amaechi, in turn, dismissed Wike’s claim that he (Wike) played a pivotal role in making him governor.
“As a journalist, nobody has ever asked that man who claims he made me governor: ‘How exactly did you make him governor?’ Right? Nobody has ever asked that question,” Amaechi stated.
He recalled the legal battle that led to his ascension as governor, noting that Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), now the Attorney General of the Federation, was his lead counsel at the time. According to Amaechi, the decisive court judgment that declared him governor had nothing to do with Wike’s influence.
“I went to court. If anything, Lateef Fagbemi, now Anthony General of the Federation was my lawyer. You can ask him,” he said.
Amaechi also recounted how Wike, then seeking a powerful portfolio, had asked to be appointed Commissioner for Finance in Rivers State after his court victory. Instead, Amaechi said he insisted on making him Chief of Staff to enable closer supervision.
“Mohammed Adoke flew from Abuja to Port Harcourt to make that case. But I said no. I wanted Wike as Chief of Staff so I could supervise him directly. I never offered him the position of Commissioner for Finance,” Amaechi revealed.
In a thinly veiled jab, Amaechi described Wike as someone who made himself everything.
“Let’s be honest: he made himself Chief of Staff, made himself Governor, made himself minister…—so let it end there. Don’t go any further,” he quipped, adding, “I don’t want to join issues with children.”
Amaechi stressed that he once had authority over Wike and still regards him as a former subordinate, despite their later positions.
“I’ve said it several times: he was my subordinate. I was once his boss, whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no. Just because we’ve both held certain positions doesn’t mean we’re equals,” he emphasised.
Highlighting his broader leadership record, Amaechi noted that beyond being a governor and minister like Wike, he also held the role of Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly—an additional feather in his political cap.
“Yes, I was a governor. He became a governor. I was a minister. He became a minister. But I was also a Speaker,” he added.
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