Yemi Obafemi
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lashed out at his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, over recent comments made by the former minister during his 60th birthday celebration.
Speaking at a media parley in Abuja, Wike expressed disappointment that Amaechi chose what should have been a moment of reflection and celebration to “tell lies.”
“I don’t know why a man would choose his 60th birthday to tell lies. It’s unfortunate. Of all times, on your 60th birthday when people are celebrating you?” Wike said.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and ex-minister of transportation, had declared at his birthday event last Friday that he was “hungry” and would not hesitate to join a coalition led by opposition leader Atiku Abubakar to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Responding, Wike ridiculed the statement, saying Amaechi’s claim of hunger was insincere and politically motivated.
“He was Speaker from 1999 to 2007. He was the most pampered speaker. He became a governor from 2007 to 2015. Eight years as Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, and eight years as governor, he never talked about hunger,” Wike said.
“He became a minister from 2015 to 2023, eight years as a super minister of transport. When he was borrowing money for projects, he didn’t talk about hunger.”
Wike alleged that Amaechi’s real hunger is for political power, not food or survival, describing his statement as an insult to Nigerians genuinely struggling with poverty.
His words: Two years after office, he says: ‘I’m in coalition because I’m hungry’. He is only hungry for power and that shows failure on his part.
“How do you insult Nigerians? How do you trivialise the issue of hunger or poverty? He joined Atiku, and (ex-Kaduna governor Nasir) el-Rufai, all because he is hungry, has he not insulted Nigerians? Just that he can’t stay out of power.”
