The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has faulted former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for what he described as a politically calculated use of Nigeria’s economic hardship to regain public relevance.
Wike, speaking at a media briefing on Monday in Abuja, dismissed Amaechi’s recent comments on hunger as insincere and opportunistic, accusing him of trivialising a serious national concern for political gain.
Amaechi, during his 60th birthday celebration, had lamented the widespread hardship in the country, saying, “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am.” He further added, “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.”
Reacting sharply, Wike questioned the former governor’s credibility and timing, pointing out that Amaechi had held key positions of influence for more than two decades without raising such concerns.
“I don’t understand why a man like Amaechi would choose his 60th birthday to lie to Nigerians about being hungry,” Wike said. “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’s sudden lamentation is not born out of empathy but a strategic political manoeuvre aimed at destabilising the current administration.
“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 said.
The FCT Minister went on to question Amaechi’s political relevance and record, particularly during the last two election cycles.
“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 per cent for Buhari during elections, despite being the campaign DG,” he stated.
Wike also took issue with Amaechi’s use of the word “remove” when referring to President Tinubu, describing it as suggestive of anti-democratic intentions.
“Let’s see how he plans to remove the president. Is it a military coup?” Wike asked. “The term ‘removal’ is synonymous with dictatorship or military coup. Nigerians remember what happened in 2015, and now he claims Nigerians are hungry.”
On his part, Wike positioned himself as a stabilising force within the Tinubu administration, saying his role is to help the president succeed.
“I am an asset, not a liability, even if some people dislike me, but I am an asset in ensuring President Tinubu wins a second term,” he said.
