Respect Comes from Integrity, Not Age, Wike Slams Amaechi
In a searing interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike took direct aim at his longtime political rival, former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of hypocrisy, arrogance, and a lack of accountability.
The exchange comes amid renewed tensions in Rivers State and ongoing national political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, known for his confrontational style, responded strongly to recent comments by Amaechi, who had accused him of being disrespectful.
“Respect is not by age,” Wike said. “It is by integrity and honour. You can be 200 years old; if you don’t have integrity, you don’t deserve respect.”
The statement was a direct response to Amaechi’s insinuation that Wike lacked the decency to respect his political elders. But Wike didn’t stop there.
“He said he doesn’t like money. Who is he deceiving? Anybody who says he doesn’t like money is a big liar,” Wike added, accusing Amaechi of false modesty. He questioned how someone who had spent nearly 24 years in powerful public offices—as Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, two-term Governor, and Minister—could claim to be indifferent to financial gains.
Throughout the interview, Wike painted Amaechi as a man trying to rewrite his record while plotting a return to relevance through opposition coalitions.
The former Rivers Governor has recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other emerging opposition forces seeking to challenge the ruling APC in 2027.
But Wike was dismissive of such ambitions.
“You want to come back to power? You won’t come back. Let’s see what you did when you had the chance,” he said. “Talk is cheap. Show Nigerians your achievements, not just your anger.”
The interview revealed deep-seated animosity between the two former allies, who once stood together under the PDP banner before parting ways. Their rivalry has now become a defining element of Rivers State politics, spilling into national discourse.
Wike also challenged Amaechi and other critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to focus on solutions rather than empty rhetoric.
“This government inherited a dead economy. We are not where we want to be yet, but don’t act like you had a better record,” he said.
Observers believe Wike’s remarks were intended not just to defend himself but to further isolate Amaechi within the shifting coalitions preparing for the next election cycle. While Amaechi remains a powerful figure, especially in Rivers and parts of the South-South, Wike appears determined to ensure he doesn’t reclaim political prominence unchallenged.
The episode is expected to spark a flurry of political responses in the coming days, with many watching to see whether Amaechi will issue a formal reply or escalate the war of words.
As Nigeria heads toward 2027, the Wike-Amaechi rivalry continues to reflect broader tensions in the country’s political class—where old alliances have fractured, and personal credibility may prove just as important as party loyalty.
