Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has declared that his predecessor and political rival Rotimi Amaechi’s presidential ambition will come to nought, describing it as “dead on arrival.”
According to Wike, if Amaechi runs for president in the 2027 general election as the candidate of the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), he will fail.
Wike made these comments on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
He dismissed Amaechi’s chances of securing a presidential ticket and winning the support of the Nigerian electorate.
Amaechi, a former minister of transportation who was the runner-up in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2022, recently defected to the ADC in pursuit of its presidential ticket for the 2027 poll.
However, the FCT minister, who served as governor of Rivers State immediately after Amaechi’s eight-year tenure, expressed absolute confidence that his predecessor would fail.
“He knows he won’t get the ticket. He said he knows the president’s weaknesses and how to defeat him, but he also knew the president’s weaknesses in 2022 when the president defeated him mercilessly in the primary,” Wike said.
The FCT minister went further to assert that Amaechi stood no chance of flying the ADC flag in the 2027 election
“Nigerians know the last person they will give a ticket to because they know it (Amaechi’s bid) is dead on arrival,” he said.
Wike also launched a personal attack on Amaechi’s record, questioning his fitness to combat corruption and uphold good governance.
He specifically accused Amaechi of blatant disregard for the judiciary and the rule of law during his time as governor of Rivers State.
Wike Defends Tinubu, Says President Is Approachable
Meanwhile, Wike has defended President Bola Tinubu against criticisms of leading an unapproachable administration, asserting that the government structure is designed for citizens to engage with ministers and aides, not solely the president.
Wike argued that expecting the president to be personally accessible to every citizen is a misunderstanding of governance.
The minister’s comments were a direct rebuttal to recent claims by former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who had described the Tinubu administration as distant and unapproachable.
When you say Mr. President is unapproachable, and the government is unapproachable, what do you call government?” Wike questioned, even as he elaborated on the principles of delegation and teamwork that underpin the federal executive.
“I am the minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Z is a minister in charge of the interior, Mrs O is a minister in charge of trade, investment and industry. Must everybody reach Mr. President? Is that the way the government runs?”
Wike urged Nigerians to utilise the channels of ministers and special advisers appointed to handle specific sectors.
“If everybody in this country refuses to reach out to ministers or special advisers and just wants to see Mr. President, how many people can he attend to at a time?
“I am a minister. If you have a problem regarding the activities in the FCT, have you tried to reach out to the FCT minister?” he asked.
When asked by the host to give a clear answer on the administration’s accessibility, Wike responded unequivocally, “Of course,” affirming his belief that the government is open to engagement through its designated officials.
…. Ex-SGF Babachir Angry With Tinubu Over VP Snub
Wike also alleged that the recent criticism of President Bola Tinubu by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal stems from a personal grievance over not being selected as the vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
During an appearance on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike replied to Lawal’s recent public comments describing the Tinubu administration as underperforming and unapproachable.
He referred to a private meeting to assert that Lawal’s angst was motivated by disappointment.
“When the President chose his vice-presidential candidate, I was one of those Babachir Lawal visited. He came to my house in Port Harcourt.
What was his anger? His anger was that he thought the President would have chosen him as the vice-presidential candidate. Having not done that, he let loose,” he said.
Wike dismissed Lawal’s criticisms as transparent and borne of bitterness, questioning their legitimacy.
“It is very clear; we are not kids. Even a child who is intelligent would know where your anger is coming from,” the minister said, referring to the form SGF.
Further criticising Lawal’s approach, the minister described the public criticism as disrespectful and suggested a more appropriate channel for grievances.
“If you have an issue with the President, there is nothing wrong with saying, ‘I have an issue; can I see you?’ That is how it should be, not going to the media,” he said.
Wike Dismisses ADC, Says It’s Not Coalition
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike also dismissed the recent adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by a group of opposition politicians, asserting that the move is an insignificant regrouping, not a viable coalition capable of challenging the political status quo.
During Tuesday appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ he argued that the movement of individuals between parties lacked the structural weight of an actual political merger.
The minister distinguished between the current situation and the historic formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There’s no coalition. What is a coalition? You can talk about the coalition when CPC, AC, and some PDP members formed another party, which you can call the coalition. This is just people moving from one party to another,” he said.
He pointed to the recent by-elections held across 13 states as proof of the ADC’s lack of appeal to the Nigerian electorate.
“From what happened in the by-election, how can you say Nigerians are looking up to them?” he asked.
The minister was unequivocal when asked if this perceived irrelevance was why he had previously advised Nigerians against voting for the ADC.
“Yes, because they have nothing to show,” he answered.
Wike challenged the credentials of the politicians behind the move, arguing that a record of tangible achievement is necessary to earn public trust.
“It is not enough for coalition members, who have held elective positions previously, to tell Nigerians, ‘I will do this’ without showing their track records.”
In a pointed statement highlighting his tenure as governor, Wike claimed a personal familiarity with the key figures in the ADC, suggesting their records are not so admirable.
“Among the current politicians in the ADC, there is none I have not invited to Rivers State to commission projects when I was governor of the state,” he stated.
