When I Became Governor, Woke Became Chief of Staff, But I Don’t Like Calling His Name – Rotimi Amaechi

According to the report by Daily Post on Thursday, former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), “passed through” him during his time as governor.

Amaechi, who served as governor from 2007 to 2015, revealed that Wike, who is now a key figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, once worked closely under his administration.

Amaechi, who also served as Minister of Transportation under President Muhammadu Buhari, said that he doesn’t like mentioning Wike’s name but admitted that the FCT Minister was an integral part of his administration as Chief of Staff.

Speaking during a recent interview with Igbere TV, he said, “When I became governor, Wike became Chief of Staff – but, I don’t like calling his name. Name any Rivers politician that didn’t pass through me.”

The relationship between Amaechi and Wike, both influential figures in the political landscape of Rivers State and Nigeria at large, has been strained in recent years.

Amaechi, reflecting on his early political career, added that his journey into politics began at a young age, joining at 22.

He spoke about the political landscape at the time, referencing two influential camps in Rivers State politics: the Rufus George camp, which he described as “poor and broke” with members struggling to make ends meet, and the Abule camp, which was wealthier and attracted many followers.

Despite these challenges, Amaechi built a strong political career that saw him rise to important positions of power both at the state and national levels.