The political rivalry between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi has intensified, with Wike challenging his former principal to account for major projects and expenditures from his eight-year tenure as governor.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike questioned the fate of the $39.2 million reportedly paid to a contractor for the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital.
He also demanded explanations over the N68 billion Rivers State monorail project and about $10 million allegedly spent on an anti-malaria fumigation programme involving Cuban experts during Amaechi’s administration.
Wike said his administration had established a judicial commission to investigate the payment for the specialist hospital and its failure to materialise. He also questioned what became of the monorail project, which was one of the major infrastructure schemes initiated under Amaechi.
“Ask him about the fumigation of Rivers State with people from Cuba, in which $10 million was allegedly spent. Ask him whether mosquitoes have stopped biting us in Rivers State,” Wike said.
The FCT minister, who served as Amaechi’s chief of staff before becoming governor himself, questioned the former governor’s record after eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and eight years as Minister of Transportation.
Wike also challenged Amaechi’s political influence in Rivers State, asking supporters to identify an election the former governor had won in the state since their political split in 2011.
He urged residents of Ahoada East and Ahoada West to demand evidence of projects and political empowerment allegedly brought to the area during Amaechi’s years in public office.
Wike Rejects Amaechi’s Claim Over Mother’s Death
Wike also criticised Amaechi for linking his mother’s death to the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, had said during a television interview that the rising cost of medicines under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for him to afford his mother’s drugs.
“Tinubu’s policies killed my mother. Before Tinubu came to power, my mother was healthy. After 2023, it was difficult for me to buy drugs for my mother,” Amaechi said.
Wike questioned the claim, pointing to Amaechi’s 24 years in senior public office and his reported political and financial networks.
“Again, you said it was Tinubu that killed his mother. It was Tinubu’s administration that led to not being able to buy drugs for his mother,” Wike said.
He also criticised Amaechi for comments suggesting that his late mother would be happy if the ADC won the 2027 election.
“In one of his videos, he said if ADC wins the election, his mother will be very happy. So, the only condition is that his mother will not be happy if ADC does not win,” Wike said.
The minister accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political discourse and urged politicians to separate personal grief from political disagreements.
“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.
Wike also prayed that Amaechi’s mother would rest in peace.
Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 and was buried in September in Ubima, Rivers State.
The latest exchange adds to the longstanding political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, who previously worked together before becoming political opponents. The dispute is unfolding ahead of the 2027 general elections, in which Amaechi is contesting as the ADC vice-presidential candidate.
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