Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has launched a fierce criticism against his predecessor and political rival, Rotimi Amaechi. Wike accused Amaechi’s wife of embezzling N4 billion intended for the training of women in the Niger Delta.
The allegation came during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ where Wike discussed several political matters, including recent comments by Amaechi. Amaechi had asserted his seniority over Wike, demanding respect based on his age and political experience.
Wike sharply rejected Amaechi’s claims, stating, “Respect should be earned through integrity and honor, not simply because of age. He cannot claim to be senior to me just because he governed before me.”
Further, Wike outlined his political background, noting that he had been elected as a local government chairman long before meeting Amaechi.
“I want to say, with due respect, that I never knew Rotimi from Adams. In 1998, I contested for one of Nigeria’s most respected local governments, Obiakpor Local Government, and I won,” Wike stated.
He recounted how mutual associates allegedly aided Amaechi’s political career after an initial defeat.
Wike turned his attention to Amaechi’s wife, accusing her of falsely claiming the title of “industrialist” and linking her alleged financial activities to the yet-to-be-published forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“When did your wife become an industrialist? Which company does she own?” Wike asked.
“Let’s play politics; leave our wives out of this. I regret bringing her up here. She’s not an industrialist; selling does not make you an industrialist.”
Wike criticised Amaechi for allegedly using his wife’s business status for political grandstanding and questioned his rival’s regard for his spouse.
“So unfortunate that a former governor will say that because my wife is a trader, therefore, she is an industrialist. If you love your wife, why would you bring her up in this kind of discussion? I respect my wife; that’s why it’s very difficult for me to talk about women. How can a man who wants to become a governor talk about his wife like that? I don’t think Amaechi loves his wife. If he loves his wife, he would not say that kind of thing about her.”
Wike, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to release the long-awaited NDDC forensic audit report, alleging that it contains details of how Amaechi’s wife embezzled billions of naira.
“I ask Mr President to release the forensic audit of the NDDC, to make Amaechi’s wife explain how she spent N4 billion naira on training Niger Delta women,” he said.
“It was [former Attorney-General] Malami who killed that report. That’s how Amaechi’s wife became an industrialist — four billion naira every month to train Niger Delta women,” Wike revealed.
