Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi over his record in public office, questioning what he described as the former governor’s development legacy in Rivers State and his home area.
Wike made the remarks during a strategic engagement with stakeholders of the Akpor Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he also reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Key Highlights
- Nyesom Wike challenged Rotimi Amaechi’s 24-year public service record.
- Wike questioned what major development projects Amaechi attracted to Rivers State and his home area during his years in public office.
- Amaechi served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and governor from 2007 to 2015.
- He later served as Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2022.
- Wike contrasted Amaechi’s record with projects he said he secured during his own period in government.
- The FCT Minister also reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
- Wike has said he would resign as FCT Minister if Tinubu loses both Rivers State and the FCT in 2027.
- Amaechi is aligned with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Wike Questions Amaechi’s 24-Year Public Service Record
Speaking to stakeholders in Obio-Akpor, Wike questioned the development impact of Amaechi’s lengthy career in public office.
Wike referred to Amaechi’s periods as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor of Rivers State and federal Minister of Transportation, arguing that residents should identify specific projects or benefits he attracted to Rivers State during those years.
The comments were part of Wike’s broader political engagement in Rivers State as he mobilises support ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amaechi Served as Speaker, Governor and Minister
Amaechi’s public career includes senior positions at both state and federal levels.
He was elected to the Rivers State House of Assembly in 1999 and became Speaker, a position he held until 2007. He subsequently became governor of Rivers State and served two terms between 2007 and 2015.
Following his tenure as governor, Amaechi was appointed Minister of Transportation in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, serving from 2015 to 2022. President Bola Tinubu, in a 2025 birthday message, also described Amaechi as a former Speaker and two-term governor who made contributions to Rivers State.
Wike’s description of Amaechi’s development record is therefore a political criticism of a career that spans several major government positions.
Wike Challenges Amaechi’s Development Legacy
Wike questioned whether Amaechi’s long period in public office translated into sufficient development for Rivers State and the Evo area.
He argued that political leaders should be judged by projects, opportunities and leadership structures created for their communities.
The criticism comes against the background of the longstanding political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, two former governors who have occupied influential positions in Rivers State politics.
Amaechi’s supporters and official biographical materials have highlighted infrastructure and governance projects associated with his time as governor, including roads, schools, power projects and the Port Harcourt monorail.
The competing descriptions of Amaechi’s record illustrate the political disagreement over how his tenure should be assessed.
Wike Reaffirms Support for Tinubu
During the Rivers State engagement, Wike also reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The FCT Minister has recently tied his continued stay in office to the electoral performance of the President in Rivers State and the FCT.
Wike said he would announce his resignation as FCT Minister on January 17, 2027, if Tinubu loses the presidential election in both Rivers State and the FCT.
The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Wike and Amaechi’s Long-Running Political Rivalry
The latest exchange adds to the long-running political disagreement between Wike and Amaechi.
Wike succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers State in 2015 after serving as a prominent political figure in the state. Their relationship, once politically aligned, later deteriorated into open rivalry.
Amaechi subsequently became Minister of Transportation under Buhari, while Wike served as Rivers State governor from 2015 to 2023 before becoming FCT Minister under Tinubu.
Their political differences have continued into the preparations for the 2027 elections, with Amaechi now associated with the ADC opposition platform and Wike openly supporting Tinubu.
2027 Politics Intensifies in Rivers State
The latest comments come as political actors in Rivers State intensify consultations and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike has continued to campaign for Tinubu while engaging traditional rulers, community leaders and political stakeholders across the state. The Akpor engagement was one of his latest meetings as he seeks to consolidate political support.
Amaechi, meanwhile, is part of the ADC’s opposition ticket for the 2027 presidential contest.
The renewed exchange between the two former Rivers governors places their contrasting records, political alliances and visions for the state at the centre of emerging debates ahead of the next election cycle.
