Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticized former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over a recent statement in which the former governor claimed he was “hungry.”
Wike alleged that Amaechi’s true craving is not food but political power, accusing him of manipulating public sentiment under the guise of opposition politics.
Wike, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, dismissed Amaechi’s comments — made during his 60th birthday celebration — as disingenuous and politically driven. According to Wike, the remarks were less about the economic reality of Nigerians and more about an attempt by Amaechi and his political allies to regain relevance.
Amaechi, who once governed Rivers State and has been a long-standing political opponent of Wike, stated during his birthday event: “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power. In Nigeria, there are no capitalist ideas among the politicians; it’s about sharing.”
Wike, however, took strong exception to those comments, calling them misleading. “We have no time to listen to nonsense in Nigeria,” Wike said. “I don’t understand why a man like Amaechi would choose his 60th birthday to lie to Nigerians about being hungry.”
He further criticized Amaechi’s long-standing presence in positions of power, stating, “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.”
According to Wike, Amaechi and his allies are forming new political coalitions, not out of concern for the common citizen, but as a means of staging a political comeback. “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,” Wike asserted.
The FCT Minister accused Amaechi of being unable to relinquish his hold on political power and suggested that his hunger narrative is merely a smokescreen for deeper ambitions. “It is clear he cannot stay out of power. From 1999 to 2023, Amaechi stood before Nigerians and claimed hunger. He was a former governor who couldn’t secure even 25% for Buhari during elections, despite being the campaign DG.”
Wike also alluded to past political events in which Amaechi played key roles, stating, “Thank God we did not support the PDP; otherwise, he would have taken the glory. He is now in a coalition. I don’t like to talk much. Let them form their team and start from home in Rivers.”
Responding to Amaechi’s statement about the opposition’s ability to “remove the man in power,” Wike questioned the legality and implications of such a statement. “Let’s see how he plans to remove the president. Is it a military coup? The term ‘removal’ is synonymous with dictatorship or military coup. Nigerians remember what happened in 2015, and now he claims Nigerians are hungry.”
In conclusion, Wike positioned himself as a political asset to the current administration, saying, “I am not a liability; I am an asset. You may dislike me, but I am an asset in ensuring President Tinubu wins a second term.”
What you should know
The recent public exchange between Wike and Amaechi highlights deep political tensions between two longtime rivals from Rivers State.
While Amaechi raises concerns about economic hardship, Wike insists the real motive is political ambition, signaling potential power plays ahead of the 2027 elections.
