Politics in Nigeria is never short of drama—and the latest episode features two of Rivers State’s most powerful sons: Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi.
In a no-holds-barred interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, dropped a bombshell that’s got everyone talking.
“I risked my life, my family, and everything I had to make Amaechi governor in 2007.”
Yes, you read that right.
Wike, known for his fiery takes and unfiltered honesty, didn’t hold back as he relived the turbulent political journey that saw Rotimi Amaechi rise from embattled politician to Rivers State governor. According to Wike, that victory came at a heavy personal price—one he says Amaechi has conveniently forgotten.
The Ghana Escape & Tears at the Airport
Wike claimed that when the heat turned up in 2007, he was the one who smuggled Amaechi out of Nigeria to Ghana for safety. While Amaechi was in hiding, Wike said he was holding things down at home, dodging bullets, and taking major risks.
He recounted one emotional moment that stuck with him:
“When he came back from Ghana, at the airport we both cried. I called my wife and told her to take my children away that I might not make it. That’s how serious it was.”
Talk about loyalty on a whole new level.
Wike says he spent everything he had—emotionally and financially—to support Amaechi’s dream of becoming governor. “People like Bello Adoke and Magnus Abe can testify,” he added, naming big political figures who allegedly witnessed it all.
From Humble Politician to Real Estate Mogul?
But that’s not all. Wike threw in a jab at Amaechi’s lifestyle, accusing him of pretending to be poor while owning luxurious properties in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
“You can’t be a poor man and own mansions in Guzape and GRA.”
Wike insists that his former ally has been playing a double game—humble in public, wealthy in private.
Amaechi Claps Back: “I Don’t Engage in Childish Talk”
Of course, Amaechi wasn’t going to take that lying down.
In a separate interview on Arise TV, the former Minister of Transportation dismissed Wike’s claims as immature and laughable, saying Wike was never the reason he became governor.
“God, the courts, Peter Odili, and the people of Rivers made me governor. Not Wike.”
He even revealed that he offered Wike the position of chief of staff instead of the finance commissioner role he wanted—just to monitor him closely. Ouch.
Amaechi went on to describe Wike as someone hungry for power, not food, referencing a comment Wike made about politicians being “hungry men.”
The Wike-Amaechi Feud Just Got More Personal
This isn’t just political beef anymore—this is personal. Deeply personal.
Wike paints himself as a loyal friend turned betrayed brother, while Amaechi calls Wike a dramatic storyteller who’s trying to rewrite history.
Even Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, jumped into the fray, mocking Amaechi for fleeing to Ghana “under his wife’s wrapper” while Wike “faced the fire” back home. Yes, it’s that heated.
So who do we believe?
The Nigerian political landscape is built on alliances, betrayals, and ever-changing loyalties. But Wike’s revelations have thrown fresh light on just how deep the rift between these two giants runs.
Is Wike telling the truth? Or is this just another chapter in the battle for political dominance in Rivers State?
What’s clear is this: Rivers’s politics is still very much on fire, and both men are determined to control the narrative.
Join the Conversation
Who do you believe, the man who says he risked everything or the one who says he owes no one?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. This one’s going to spark some serious debate.
