Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has publicly rebuked Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stating that he would not engage in a war of words with “children,” and dismissing claims that Wike played a key role in his political rise.
During an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Amaechi declared that he once hired Wike as his chief of staff and could not be drawn into personal insults with someone he once supervised.
“I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not, I hired him. I could have said no,” Amaechi stated, suggesting that Wike’s role in his administration was one of oversight rather than mentorship. “I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance.”
Amaechi also denied Wike’s insinuation that he was instrumental in his (Amaechi’s) emergence as governor of Rivers State, attributing his victory instead to God, former Governor Peter Odili, the judiciary, and the people of Rivers State.
His remarks come in response to Wike’s recent attack, in which the FCT Minister dismissed Amaechi’s viral comment that “we’re all hungry,” made during his 60th birthday celebration. Wike alleged that Amaechi was not suffering from economic hardship but rather a hunger for political relevance.
