Wike accuses Amaechi of failing to deliver development to Rivers

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has accused former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi of failing to deliver meaningful development to the State during 24 years in senior political positions. Wike made the claim on Friday during an interactive session with leaders and stakeholders of the Evo Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, issued a statement on the meeting.

According to Wike, Amaechi served as speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years, governor for eight years and a federal minister for another eight years. Wike challenged residents to identify projects or other developments Amaechi had brought to the Evo Kingdom or Rivers during that period. “Can anyone point out what has been done to Evo Kingdom or Rivers State in all those 24 years?

Nothing, not one single thing,” Wike said. The remarks were an assessment by Wike and were not accompanied in the source material by a response from Amaechi. Wike contrasted Amaechi’s record with his own time as Minister of State for Education, saying he could identify projects he had attracted to Rivers State.

He questioned how Amaechi could claim to love the people after what Wike described as 24 years without empowering them. The minister also repeated a pledge to resign as FCT minister if President Bola Tinubu loses Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory in the 2027 elections. He said he had returned to Rivers to help the people and not to seek personal gain.

Wike defended his engagement with former political opponents, saying political actors should focus on collective interests rather than lasting personal hostility. He urged people not to be distracted by criticism on social media. He called for an inclusive campaign structure in Obio/Akpor, asking politicians, traditional rulers, religious figures and other community actors to participate.

Wike said electoral politics required building a broad structure capable of mobilising voters. The meeting was part of Wike’s efforts to rally Rivers State’s political structure behind Tinubu. The source material does not detail Amaechi’s current political response to Wike’s accusations or provide an independent assessment of the projects discussed.