Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has publicly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of disrespect and betrayal, despite being mentored by him politically.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that Amaechi made the comments during an interview on Politics Today, aired on Channels Television on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The fiery remarks have reignited tensions between the two Rivers-born political heavyweights.
Amaechi challenged Wike to a symbolic test of popularity to prove who commands genuine grassroots support in Rivers State.
“Let the Minister of the FCT come, let’s take a walk from the airport to Port Harcourt, no police, no army, nothing, just the two of us,” he said.
Amaechi questioned Wike’s continuous acts of disrespect, despite their long political association, declaring:
“I don’t know why he doesn’t respect people like us; I am older. I brought him up in politics. Who is he?”
Their bitter rivalry dates back to their days in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), where Amaechi served as governor of Rivers State and appointed Wike as his Chief of Staff. The relationship deteriorated following Amaechi’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, and Wike’s emergence as Rivers Governor under the PDP banner in 2015.
In a major political shift, Amaechi also announced his resignation from the APC, a party he helped found.
“I am no longer in APC. I resigned on Tuesday,” he confirmed during the interview.
According to Naija News, Amaechi has now joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party recently adopted by the growing opposition coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Amaechi’s defection aligns him with prominent figures like Peter Obi, as the coalition aims to challenge the dominance of the ruling APC and the opposition PDP.
Political analysts believe Amaechi’s move, coupled with his renewed confrontation with Wike, will reshape the political dynamics in Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
With both men now representing rival federal interests, Amaechi in the ADC coalition and Wike in Tinubu’s cabinet, the political battle lines ahead of 2027 are becoming clearer.
Observers await Wike’s response to the daring challenge, while others watch to see whether Amaechi’s departure from the APC marks the beginning of a new political wave in southern Nigeria.
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