The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of failing to deliver meaningful development to the state despite spending 24 years in top political positions.
Wike made the remarks on Friday during an interactive session with leaders and stakeholders of the Evo Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to the minister, Amaechi spent eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, another eight years as governor and eight years as a federal 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,” Wike said.
He challenged the people of Evo Kingdom and Rivers State to identify projects or other notable developments that Amaechi attracted to the area during his years in public office.
“Can anyone point out what has been done to Evo Kingdom or Rivers State in all those 24 years? Nothing, not one single thing,” he said.
Wike contrasted Amaechi’s record with his own stint as Minister of State for Education, saying he could point to projects he facilitated for Rivers State while serving in the federal government.
“I was Minister of State for Education and I can count the projects I attracted to Rivers. But he was speaker, governor and a full minister for eight years in a lucrative ministry, yet brought nothing home,” he said.
The former Rivers governor also questioned Amaechi’s current claim to have the interest of the people at heart.
“After 24 years in power without empowering his people, how can he now say he loves them?” he asked.
Wike, who has been mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, again pledged to resign as FCT minister if Tinubu loses Rivers State and the FCT.
He made the declaration during a strategic consultative meeting with stakeholders in Akpor Kingdom, where he urged Rivers politicians and community leaders to support the president.
“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back not for what I will get, but for what I can do to uplift my people,” Wike said.
The minister also defended his engagement with former political opponents, saying political differences should not override the collective interests of the people.
“There is no permanent enemy in politics, only permanent collective interest. It is about the interest of our people. The more united we are, the stronger we become,” he said.
Wike urged Rivers politicians and community leaders not to be distracted by criticism of his political engagements on social media, stressing that electoral success depends on building a broad and inclusive political structure.
He called on politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other influential figures in Obio/Akpor to join the campaign structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
“When it comes to voting and elections, we must bring everyone together,” he said.
