The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh attack on former Rivers State governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, saying he no longer has the political strength to influence election outcomes in Rivers State or across the South-South region.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Wike questioned reports linking Amaechi to discussions about a possible vice-presidential position. He argued that anyone considering the former governor for such a role could not be relying on his electoral value, insisting that Amaechi has failed to demonstrate the ability to attract votes in major elections
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Wike pointed to previous presidential elections to support his position. He recalled that Amaechi served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in 2015 while he was governor of Rivers State but failed to deliver the level of votes expected for the All Progressives Congress. He also referred to the 2019 election, when Amaechi held a senior position in the Federal Government, and the 2023 election, when he backed Atiku Abubakar, arguing that the results from Rivers State did not show strong political influence.
The minister said a politician should be judged by the support they still enjoy among the people after leaving office. According to him, a true political leader should also be able to point to lasting projects and benefits brought to the state through their service at the national level. He challenged Amaechi’s record and questioned what direct gains Rivers State and the South-South received during his time in the Federal Government.
Wike also accused Amaechi of taking inconsistent political positions. He said the former minister had criticised the conduct of the All Progressives Congress primary election, describing the process as flawed, but later became involved in the same political system. He argued that such actions raise questions about Amaechi’s political consistency.
The FCT minister further referred to Amaechi’s role during the 2015 presidential election, when he supported the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the South-South region. Wike also mentioned the controversy surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, saying many people in the region still remember those events and would consider them when assessing Amaechi’s political ambitions.
According to Wike, the people of the South-South are unlikely to ignore past political decisions that affected leaders from the region. He maintained that anyone seeking higher office must be prepared to account for previous actions and their impact on the people.
The minister also compared his own period in office with that of his predecessor, saying Rivers State has received more federal attention in recent years than at any other time since 1999. He cited infrastructure projects, including the Bonny Road project, as examples of the benefits the state has enjoyed under the current administration.
Wike concluded that his assessment of Amaechi is based on electoral history and political realities rather than personal differences. He maintained that political relevance should be measured by public support, election performance and the ability to deliver lasting benefits to the people.