Former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed recent remarks made by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stating that he would not engage in a war of words with “children.”
Amaechi made the statement during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, where he responded, although indirectly, to Wike’s comments about his political relevance and past role in government.
Wike had earlier ridiculed a comment Amaechi made during his recent 60th birthday celebration, in which he said, “We’re all hungry.” The FCT minister dismissed the statement, saying Amaechi was not hungry for food but for political relevance.
The FTC minister had also said he is responsible for Amaechi’s emergence as governor.
“Nobody made me governor. God, Peter Odili, and the Nigerian judiciary made me governor. Nobody,” Amaechi responded.
“Nobody has ever asked that man that says he made me governor, how did you make this man governor? Nobody has ever asked that question.”
Amaechi further addressed his decision to appoint Wike as his chief of staff during his tenure, explaining that it was a deliberate move to keep him under close supervision.
“Mohammed Adoke flew all the way from Abuja to Port Harcourt. That week he asked me to make him commissioner for finance and I said no, he has to work under me. I want him as chief of staff so I can supervise him,” Amaechi said.
He continued, “I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”
The former Minister of Transportation added, “I was once his boss. Whether he likes it or not. I hired him. I could have said no.”
Mocking Wike’s self-promotion, he added, “You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”
