Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, this Monday, continued his verbal assault on political foes. This time, the Rivers State governor’s missile was targeted at his predecessor and foe Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of the APC.
BASIC FACTS
- Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has called his predecessor Rotimi Amaechi a failure who can’t enter the presidential villa.
- Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, warned his political foe, Rotimi Amaechi to stop talking about Rivers State.
- There is no love lost between Rotimi Amaechi and his successor Nyesom Wike, since the former pitched tent with the APC.
WHAT WE KNOW
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, fired verbal missiles at his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, on Monday, when he described the former Minister of Transportation as a “total failure” who no longer has access to Aso Villa in Abuja.
Wike who spoke at the commissioning of the remodeled former RivBank building in Port Harcourt warned the former Governor to desist from talking about the state. Wike accused Amaechi of blocking what would have come to the state.
Governor Wike continuing his attack, said Amaechi is no longer welcomed at the Aso Rock presidential villa because the president is angry with him.
Rotimi Amaechi had on Saturday taken a swipe at Wike at the funeral of a traditional ruler, Alabo Graham-Douglas, in the Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.
The former Governor and immediate past minister of transportation, had knocked Wike, who was absent at the funeral, saying he thought the state government would take responsibility for everything concerning the Kalabari chief and recognise him.
However, Wike on Monday, replied Amaechi, saying he chose to stay away from the burial because it was politicised. The governor went on to detail how he constructed the roads leading to the residence and palace of the traditional ruler when he was alive.
The governor also claimed he elevated Alabo’s stool to the status of a first-class monarch before his passing.
NOTABLE QUOTE
Governor Wike speaking on Monday said, “This should be the last time that you (Amaechi) will talk about this state because you are a total failure as far as this state is concerned. A total failure. Even what is supposed to come to us, you blocked it but we didn’t bother.”
“You think you will not finish as a minister, you have left. I hear he can’t even enter Villa now. All those periods you intimidated police people, and army people are over. You use to tell them, ‘The President is angry with you’. Now, go and tell them,”
“Don’t distract us again or else I will say more things,”
CATCH-UP
The battle line between former Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his successor Governor Nyesom Wike, was drawn when Amaechi as governor defected to the APC and opposed the re-election of former President Jonathan.
Amaechi did all he could to ensure Wike did not win the 2015 elections. However, the popularity of the PDP and then federal might was enough to unsettle Amaechi’s camp, his preferred candidate, Dakuku Peterside kissed the dust.
The battle line was renewed in 2019, but it was Wike who won again. Before the elections, the court had declared APC candidates ineligible to contest in Rivers State because of their internal party wrangling.
Wike and Amaechi have been at loggerheads for years whilst they strive to enthrone their respective political parties in the state.
As the two major parties sought to pick presidential candidates, both Wike and Amaechi had presented themselves to their respective parties, PDP and APC. Both men lost the party’s ticket. However, it has been Governor Wike who has remained in the news since then.
Both men are also working to ensure their preferred candidate wins the governorship position for the Brick House Port Harcourt.
COMMENTARY
Rivers people cannot afford warlike environment as the state approaches 2023 General elections.
The people and all critical stakeholders can only wish that the enmity between these two gladiators does not transcend to bloodbath as was the case in 2015 and 2019.
Governor Wike, already have more battle lines than one to contend with as the nation approach February 2023.
There is the raging battle with the PDP at the centre, there is the SDP camp to contend with, why open up a wound that has not gone away anyway?
