Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Monday fired back at former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi over comments he made about President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Speaking during his monthly media chat yesterday in Abuja, the minister accused Amaechi of lying to Nigerians during his 60th birthday celebration by claiming that he was among those affected by widespread hunger in the country.
Wike said: “I do not know how a man will choose his 60th birthday to tell lies.
“It is unfortunate that on your birthday, while people celebrate you, you choose to lie.
“He was the speaker of Rivers State from 1999 to 2007. Everybody knows he was the most pompous Speaker. He lived in London while serving as Speaker. He was governor from 2007 to 2015,” adding that Amaechi had only been out of power for two years, since 2023, when he completed another eight years as transport minister in the Buhari administration.
Wike further argued that Amaechi only now complains about hunger because he’s out of power.
He also hit back at former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, describing him as power-hungry.
The minister also lampooned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Bode George, over his claims that the party made Wike politically relevant.
Wike dismissed George’s remarks, insisting that he was the one who boosted the PDP’s popularity and electoral success in Rivers State, unlike George who failed to deliver victories for the party in Lagos State.
The minister also mocked George for criticising the sealing of the PDP national secretariat due to unpaid ground rent.
Responding to why he did not settle the ground rent on behalf of his party instead of allowing his staff to shut the place, he said, “I can’t pay because it’s not in my name.” Wike taunted the PDP elder statesman, saying, “If an old man has no job, Bode George should sit in his house and read newspapers.”
Addressing George’s claim that the PDP gave him a national platform, Wike retorted, “Bode George said PDP made me by giving me a national name, I agree, but the party can’t make you; you are the one who will make the party win elections.”
He challenged George’s political relevance, asking, “Ask Bode George who PDP made popular in Lagos since 1999? Then you are talking to me, who has laboured and campaigned for the party to be the major party at the state and national level.
“While in your state, the party has been crying daily. Even when Jonathan was in power, we knew what we did to help the PDP take over power, but it didn’t work.
Wike mocked George’s political achievements in Lagos,
“Since 1999, PDP in Lagos has not won even one seat in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, or Senate. And you say the party made you? No, you make the party strong by your work.”
He also said nobody in the PDP can question his membership or force him out of the party, describing himself as one of the PDP’s most loyal members.
“I am still in the PDP. I have not seen anyone brave enough to tell me, ‘You’re not a PDP member.’ Who can say that? What have they done for the party that is more than what I’ve done?”
The minister recently cancelled about 5,000 land titles in Abuja for unpaid fees, one of which belongs to Bode George.
“Bode George is number 3092 on the list. His land was listed for not paying fees for ten years. At his level? At his level?” he queried.
Although still in PDP, Wike said his main focus is supporting President Bola Tinubu’s government, “The only person I answer to is Mr. President. I am working to support this government and make positive changes.”
The minister also defended his actions during the last election, saying he never worked against his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He argued that if he had really betrayed the PDP, the party would not have won the governorship and all National Assembly and State Assembly seats in Rivers State.
He explained that he and other PDP leaders, like Bode George had agreed that the party’s presidential ticket should go to the South for fairness and equity.
“In 2023, I clearly said I wouldn’t support their presidential candidate. It was only fair for the presidency to go to the South since we already had a Northern party chairman.
“They ignored this and thought Atiku would win anyway. So I refused to support him.
“If I had really betrayed PDP, how come we won everything in Rivers State? Which other PDP state delivered 100 per cent of National Assembly seats?” he said.
Wike pointed out that Bode George actually supported Labour Party’s Peter Obi, while he backed Tinubu.
“We all agreed to support a Southern candidate. I am a practical politician; I knew Obi could not win. So, what is wrong with supporting Tinubu?
“If I was really against PDP, we would not have won the governorship or any seats in Rivers. In fact, Rivers was PDP’s biggest success story,” Wike said.
Wike’s comments come amid ongoing tensions in PDP about members who supported opposition candidates during the last elections.
Wike also said the difference between him and past FCT ministers, including current Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, was that they were afraid to take on the big men and make them comply with payment obligations, unlike him, who thrives on it.
The minister stated that he takes joy in confronting powerful figures flouting property regulations in Abuja, insisting that all defaulting owners, including his own party, must pay outstanding ground rents or face the consequences
“Look at what we are doing differently. People have said that FCT was not working, but now it is working, which means I am doing things that they refused to do.
“I found out that most of them didn’t have the courage to annoy people, to step on toes. But I take joy when I step on the toes of big men; those who say nothing will happen, I say something will happen. And it will happen. It makes me happy. That is why we are making results. If you don’t do the right thing, too bad. I don’t care.”
Wike rejected claims of bias against the poor: “All they want me to do is make decisions against poor people, saying nothing will happen to them.”
