Amaechi fires back at Wike: ‘I don’t join issues with children’
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed the reason behind appointing Nyesom Wike as his Chief of Staff during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.
According to Amaechi, he deliberately chose Wike for the position instead of making him Commissioner for Finance so he could keep a close eye on him.
His comments came in response to Wike’s recent jibe at him following Amaechi’s statement, “We’re all hungry,” made during his 60th birthday celebration.
Wike had dismissed the remark, claiming the former governor was not hungry for food, but for political recognition.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, Amaechi said he had no interest in exchanging words with Wike.
“God, Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people made me governor,” he said.
Challenging Wike’s claim of playing a role in his political rise, Amaechi asked, “Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”
He stated further: “I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.”
In another veiled swipe, he added, “You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”
Amaechi’s remarks are the latest in an ongoing war of words between the two political figures who were once allies in Rivers State but have since become bitter rivals.