The long-standing political animosity between former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has recently reignited with a fresh exchange of sharp remarks. This war of words delves into their past association, Amaechi's governorship, and their respective political statures.

The latest spat was largely triggered by Amaechi's comments during his 60th birthday celebration, where he stated that, like many Nigerians, he was hungry under the current administration. Wike swiftly responded, dismissing Amaechi's assertion as a ploy for political relevance and claiming Amaechi was not hungry for food but rather "hungry for power."

In subsequent media interviews, including appearances on Arise TV, Amaechi retorted strongly, referring to Wike as a "child" with whom he would not trade words, asserting that Wike was politically his subordinate. Amaechi emphasized that Wike had once served as his Chief of Staff when he was Governor of Rivers State.

Detailing their past, Amaechi recounted that he had hired Wike and possessed the authority to fire him. He stated, "I was once his [Wike’s] boss, whether he likes it or not. I hired him; I could have said no." Amaechi further clarified that he appointed Wike as Chief of Staff specifically to supervise him closely, not as Commissioner for Finance, a position Wike allegedly desired. Amaechi added, seemingly sarcastically, that Wike "made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman."

Amaechi vehemently disputed Wike's claims of being instrumental in his (Amaechi's) election as governor. Instead, Amaechi credited "God, Peter Odili, the judiciary, and the Rivers state people" for his governorship and challenged Wike to substantiate his claims. Amaechi was quoted saying, "Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children."

Conversely, Wike has previously, including in 2021, asserted that he played a pivotal role in Amaechi becoming governor, even claiming to have a tape where Amaechi acknowledged Wike as being "next to him after God." Wike questioned how Amaechi could label someone who allegedly made him governor as a mere "employee." Wike's allies, such as Lere Olayinka, also supported this narrative, recalling Wike's efforts in Rivers State to help Amaechi retrieve his mandate in 2007 after Amaechi had reportedly fled to Ghana.

Wike and his associates have also criticized Amaechi's political influence. Wike pointed out Amaechi's alleged inability to deliver Rivers State for former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 and 2019 elections and his purported failure to secure significant votes for Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. Reuben Abati, an Arise Television anchor, was criticized by Wike's aide for describing Wike as rude and asserting Amaechi was his political boss.

Adding to the discourse, Akindele Ayekooto, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sided with Wike, stating that Wike had politically "defeated" Amaechi. Ayekooto claimed Wike "pursued you from PDP, pursued you from APC and pursued you from Rivers politics...defeated you as a sitting governor, defeated you as a sitting minister, and turned you into a hungry man."

Amidst this feud, Wike has also made assertions about his own political standing, particularly within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He insisted that he remains a member of the PDP and challenged anyone within the party to expel him, citing his long service and contributions to the party.

Beyond the direct confrontation with Wike, Amaechi has also recently voiced other political criticisms. Notably, he condemned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of partisanship and suggesting that the APC might not have achieved victory in 2015 if Yakubu had been at the helm of INEC at that time.

This ongoing exchange of accusations and counter-accusations underscores the deep-seated political rivalry and unresolved issues between two of Nigeria's prominent political figures, with both leveraging their past interactions and political careers to assert dominance in the public narrative.