Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his successor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike are in for a show of power.

While Amaechi is on the part of the oppostion coaltion, Wike is strongly backing President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at a public lecture in Abuja titled “Weaponization of Poverty” to mark his 60th birthday birthday, Amaechi had said he and Nigerians were hungry

He said at the event: “We are all hungry. All of us are. If you are not hungry, I am. So, for us the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power (Tinubu), we can remove him from this power.”

DAILY POST reports that Amaechi is a key member of the opposition group who are forming a coalition to defeat President Tinubu in 2027.

On the other hand, Wike had boldly declared that he would lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign, despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Amaechi’s claims that he was hungry did not go down well with Wike.

He said on Monday during his monthly media briefing that the former Minister of Transportation was not lacking.

Wike, who stressed that Amaechi and the opposition coalition were only hungry for power, recalled how the former Minister once said he does not like money.

In 2017, Amaechi while noting that he wasn’t corrupt and didn’t like money had said: “Is my honesty in doubt? I have told Nigerians and I repeat to Nigerians today I am not corrupt and I don’t like money. I am not one swayed by money. I have lived a character that most Nigerians can tell you.”

Making reference to Amaechi’s past remark, Wike said “We have no time to listen to nonsense in Nigeria. I don’t understand why a man like Amaechi would choose his 60th birthday to lie to Nigerians about being hungry.

“He was Speaker from 1999 to 2007, Governor from 2007 to 2015, and Minister from 2015 to 2023. He never spoke about hunger during those years.

“Now they are regrouping. They are only hungry for power. This shows his failure. How can you trivialise the issue of hunger? He joined Atiku and claimed hunger. It is clear he cannot stay out of power. From 1999 to 2023, Amaechi stood before Nigerians and claimed hunger.”

Meanwhile, Amaechi has also fired back at Wike, describing him as a child.

Appearing on Arise TV, Amaechi said: “I wanted him (Wike) as chief of staff so I could supervise him.

“Adoke flew all the way from Abuja to Port Harcourt that Wike asked me to make him the Commissioner for Finance and I said no, he has to work under me so that I can supervise him.

“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 a minister. He made himself local government chairman.”

Origin of Wike, Amaechi rift

DAILY POST reports that Wike’s rift with Amaechi dates back to 2012 when a political crisis broke out between them. They have not been at peace with each other.

Amaechi is from Ubima in Ikwerre Local Council Area, while Wike is from Rumueprikon in Obio/Akpor Local Council, all from the Ikwerre area of Rivers State.

Against all odds, Amaechi is believed to have made Wike a local council boss (Obio/Akpor), Chief of Staff and also nominated him minister during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

On the other hand, Wike stood for Amaechi when former president, Olusegun Obasanjo seemed to have turned against him.

Wike was said to have fought the fierce battle that led to Amaechi’s return as governor of Rivers State by the Supreme Court and formed the backbone in the administration that scared away enemies till Amaechi stabilised.

During his two-termed tenure as governor, Amaechi played away while Wike held sway in Rivers State.

Reactions trails Wike’s latest comment on Amaechi

Former presidential spokesman and Arise Television’s anchor, Reuben Abati accused Wike of being rude to the former Minister of Transportation because the latter is his boss in politics.

Abati said: “I think that Nyesom Wike is very rude and disrespectful because Rotimi Amaechi is his boss in politics.

“When he was a local government chairman or was a councillor during Amaechi’s second term, it was Rotimi Amaechi that helped him to become local government chairman.”

Wike’s aide fires back

Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, dismissed claims that Amaechi was Wike’s boss in politics.

Olayinka affirmed that Wike fought for Amaechi when the former governor fled Nigeria to Ghana following a face-off with the then Nigerian government.

According to Olayinka: “So how is Rotimi Amaechi Wike’s boss in politics? When Amaechi was a House of Assembly member, Wike was a Local Government Chairman.

“When Amaechi ran to Ghana in 2007, Wike was in Nigeria, leading the charge to retrieve Amaechi’s mandate. But I will still not talk.

“Yesterday, Wike spoke against Rotimi Amaechi and it was aired on ARISE NEWS.

“Today, Reuben Abati, who works in ARISE NEWS is the one defending him (Amaechi). Is he Amaechi’s spokesperson?

“Trained journalists working in Media Organizations don’t do that. They leave people to defend themselves.

“But Abati won’t understand, and know why. Reason he failed as President Jonathan’s Adviser on Media.”

What can unite Wike, Amaechi

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, said the quest for resource control can still bring the two estranged bedfellows together.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Idam said: “Amaechi and Wike have no real personal issues or issues based on principles and ideology, except the struggle for dominance and resource control.

“It’s all about who controls the resources of Rivers State and nothing else. Call them today and share the resources of Rivers people amongst the two of them, you will see them unite against another third party who would want a share from them.

“There is no ideology or principle in all the fights you see from them.”

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