Amaechi is hungry for power — not food, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has taken a swipe at Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers state governor, over his recent comments on hunger, dismissing them as “politically motivated”.

Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike said Amaechi could not have been hungry for food after twenty years in several political positions.

During an event organised to mark his 60th birthday anniversary, Amaechi said he is “hungry”.

Amaechi noted that with the help of the opposition, President Bola Tinubu can be removed from office during the 2027 presidential election.

“We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I’m. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power,” Amaechi said.

Responding, Wike said the former minister’s remarks were an insult to Nigerians and “trivialise” the issue of poverty and hunger.

The FCT minister said it is “unfortunate” that Amaechi, who had served as speaker of the Rivers house of assembly, a governor, and minister, is talking about hunger after barely three years out of office.

Wike said Amaechi’s hunger comment is an indication of his quest for power.

“I don’t know why a man would choose his 60th birthday to tell lies. It is unfortunate,” Wike said.

“Your 60th birthday — that people are celebrating you and you started telling lies to Nigerians that you are hungry.

“You spent eight years as a speaker of Rivers state house of assembly, and eight years as governor.

“He did not talk about hunger. He became a minister — super minister of transportation. He did not talk about hunger.

“Two years after he left office and as a member of the coalition, he is talking about hunger. He is just hungry for power.

“How do you insult Nigerians and trivialise poverty and hunger? You are insulting Nigerians. It is just that you have stayed out of power — that is the hunger.”

AMAECHI’S POLITICAL JOURNEY

Amaechi has been in Nigeria’s political space for over two decades. His hunger complaint comes after a three-year hiatus from active politics.

He was the speaker of the Rivers house of assembly between 1999 and 2007. After his tenure as speaker, he served as governor of Rivers from 2007 to 2015.

After his tenure as minister, he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari as the minister of transportation from 2015 and 2022.

He contested the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2022 but  lost.

When Amaechi was Rivers governor, Wike was his chief of staff from 2007 to 2011. Wike then succeeded Amaechi as governor of Rivers state.