The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, declaring that his emergence as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election is “not a plus” for the opposition.
Speaking during a media chat with selected radio stations in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike insisted that Amaechi’s political record does not make him an electoral asset for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Amaechi was recently unveiled as Atiku’s vice-presidential candidate after losing the party’s presidential ticket to the former vice president.
Dismissing the excitement surrounding the ticket, Wike recalled that Amaechi failed to deliver Rivers State for former President Muhammadu Buhari despite serving eight years as governor and later as one of Buhari’s top ministers.
“Chibuike Amaechi running as vice-presidential candidate is not a plus. He was governor and could not deliver for Buhari. He was a Grade A minister and still could not secure 25 per cent for Buhari in Rivers State,” Wike declared.
The FCT minister also revived Amaechi’s controversial role in the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, saying Rivers voters have not forgotten.
According to Wike, Amaechi openly boasted that he was among those who removed Jonathan from office, a move he said could hurt the ADC ticket in the South-South.
“He publicly said he was among those who removed Jonathan. He did not want a South-South president to complete his tenure. Given that history, it will be difficult to sell his candidature to Rivers people,” he said.
Wike further accused the former Minister of Transportation of playing politics with the Ogoni people.
“When he was in power, he denied an Ogoni man the opportunity to become governor. Now that he is in opposition, he is reaching out to them. Why deceive the public?” he asked.
The minister praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting it has offered more opportunities and appointments to the Niger Delta than previous governments.
He urged Rivers people to back what he described as the better option.
“Any Rivers person who genuinely loves the state and wants its development cannot choose what is inferior over what is better. People should always put the interest of Rivers State first,” he said.
Wike also dismissed reports linking former President Goodluck Jonathan to a fresh presidential bid, saying neither he nor the mainstream Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was involved.
“I have never heard former President Jonathan say he wants to run for president,” he stated.
Reaffirming his loyalty to Tinubu, Wike declared there was no going back ahead of the 2027 election.
“We are with the President and happy where we are. Nobody leaves something good for something worse. Tinubu will win, and I will support Tinubu,” he said.
While admitting the PDP would field a presidential candidate, Wike warned that the party’s internal crisis must first be resolved if it hopes to challenge for power.
“As a party, we must present a candidate, but presenting a candidate does not automatically mean victory. The PDP has gone through a crisis and needs time to rebuild,” he said.
He also maintained that after Tinubu’s tenure, the presidency should remain in the South.
“It is the turn of the South,” Wike declared.
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