Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has escalated his long-standing feud with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, issuing a direct challenge for a public popularity test and strongly rebuking Wike for perceived disrespect.
In a recent interview on Channels Television, Amaechi, who confirmed his official resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier this week, questioned Wike’s demeanor despite Amaechi’s senior age and his role in Wike’s political emergence.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t respect people like us. I am older. I brought him up in politics. Who is he?” Amaechi stated, daring Wike to “take a walk from the airport to Port Harcourt — no police, no army, nothing, just the two of us,” to prove their respective popularity without security escorts.
Beyond the personal exchange, Amaechi advised the opposition to shift its focus from Wike to educating Nigerians on the critical issues at stake in the 2027 general elections. “If the opposition continues to focus on him, we’ll be distracted from making the people know that this 2027 election is between the people — there’s no party, no ADC, no ADA, nothing — versus Tinubu’s government,” he explained.
Addressing his silence during the recent political conflict between Wike and the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Amaechi cryptically remarked, “Why should I intervene? Did you see the outcome? Don’t you get impressed by my reaction, that at the end of the day, somebody has surrendered? At the end of the day, you can see the looting going on in the government.”
Amaechi further revealed his departure from the ruling APC, confirming he submitted his resignation letter to his ward chairman on Tuesday. “I directed one of my staff from my village to convey the letter to the ward chairman that I have left the party — if there’s even a party called APC, by the way,” he added.
The public spat marks another chapter in the enduring political rivalry between Amaechi and Wike, once close allies in Rivers State politics, a dynamic that has consistently drawn significant media attention.
