Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed ongoing jabs from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying he won’t stoop low to respond to childish provocations.
During an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Amaechi made it clear he has no interest in publicly sparring with Wike, whom he once appointed as his chief of staff.
“I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no,” Amaechi said.
Last week, at his 60th birthday event, Amaechi revealed that he, like many Nigerians, is currently feeling the weight of hunger.
Wike, in response, claimed the former transport minister was not hungry for food, but for power, accusing him of trying to stay politically relevant.
Wike also reignited an old claim that he was the one who paved the way for Amaechi to become Rivers governor.
Wike claimed he rejected an offer to be Commissioner for Finance and instead pushed to be Amaechi’s chief of staff because he wanted more control over governance.
But Amaechi denied the claims saying: “God, Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people made me governor.
“Ask him(Wike) how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”
Amaechi added that he chose Wike to be his chief of staff in order to keep a close eye on him.
He said, “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.
“You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”
Taking a swipe at Wike’s political style, Amaechi accused him of being immature and disrespectful, saying he drags family names through the mud for the sake of public attention.
“There’s no more respect for family names. People just do and say anything,” he said.
Amaechi also threw shade at Wike’s publicized infrastructure efforts in Rivers State.
He said that during his own time as governor, he built multiple flyovers without fanfare.
He expressed frustration over how many of his projects have been neglected or vandalized.
“It distresses me when I see those projects vandalised,” he added.
KanyiDaily recalls that Nyesom Wike lambasted Rotimi Amaechi, over his recent comment about being “hungry.”