2027: Wike threatens to block Amaechi’s campaign in Rivers over insults on Tinubu

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to make it difficult for former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to campaign in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections over alleged derogatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu and his supporters.

Wike accused Amaechi, an opposition politician aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of describing people willing to vote for Tinubu as thieves and mentally unstable.

The minister said Amaechi could not make such remarks and expect the President’s supporters in Rivers State to accept them without resistance. However, he did not specify the form the resistance would take.

Wike spoke in Abuja after a meeting with FCT area council chairmen, where he also addressed the indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the territory, threatened to enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against striking workers and raised concerns over unauthorised developments in parts of the FCT.

Wike Accuses Amaechi of Insulting Tinubu’s Supporters

The minister called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action against politicians who, according to him, resort to personal attacks and inflammatory remarks instead of issue-based campaigns.

He particularly criticised Amaechi over comments he said the former governor made during a campaign-related engagement in Edo State.

Wike said: “All of us watched on television yesterday, where he said it’s only thieves that can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And also said that only mad people can go and vote for Ahmed Tinubu, and that if Edo people vote for him, it means Edo people are mad.”

He argued that political campaigns should focus on presenting policy alternatives and explaining what candidates intend to do differently if elected, rather than attacking political opponents or insulting their supporters.

Wike accused INEC of failing to act against what he described as inflammatory political statements. He also criticised the media for allegedly applying different standards when scrutinising political figures.

The minister maintained that Amaechi should withdraw the remarks and recognise that political disagreements should not descend into personal insults.

He warned that the former governor could face opposition while campaigning in Rivers State if he continued making such statements.

“If he continues this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers,” Wike said.

The minister added that Tinubu’s supporters in the state would not accept what he described as an attempt to disparage them.

Wike Challenges Amaechi Over Rivers Projects

Wike also challenged Amaechi to explain several projects and financial transactions associated with his tenure as governor of Rivers State.

Among the issues he raised was an alleged $39 million expenditure on a cassava flour mill, which he claimed was never built despite the reported payment.

“Where is our $39 million cassava flour mill which you claimed that you built, and you refused to build? And, of course, you claimed you paid the $39 million USD. Where is the money?” Wike asked.

He also questioned the N68 billion Port Harcourt monorail project, which has been criticised over its implementation and eventual abandonment.

“And I’ve asked him, the N68 billion monorail, where is the monorail?” the minister said.

Wike further raised questions about a reported $10 million payment to a Cuban company for a fumigation exercise intended to control mosquitoes. He questioned the value of the expenditure, arguing that residents continued to suffer mosquito bites.

The minister also demanded explanations regarding the reported sale of a state-owned gas turbine for $308 million, asking for clarification on the transaction and the handling of the proceeds.

However, Wike did not present documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations during the briefing.

He also referred to a judicial panel of inquiry that he claimed indicted Amaechi, challenging the former governor to explain the findings and the outcome of his legal challenge.

The allegations form part of the escalating political exchanges between the two former Rivers State governors as political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections begin to take shape.

Wike Dismisses FCT NLC Strike, Orders Workers Back to Duty

On the industrial dispute in the FCT, Wike dismissed the indefinite strike declared by the NLC over teachers’ grievances, describing it as politically motivated.

He insisted that there was no justification for the action, maintaining that the issues raised by the labour body had either been resolved or were being addressed by the relevant authorities.

The minister identified promotions and other administrative matters affecting teachers in the area councils as some of the issues under discussion.

According to him, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and representatives of senior primary school teachers had distanced themselves from the strike.

“The issue of promotion is ongoing. The issue of director is an establishment matter,” Wike said.

He directed the six area council chairmen to recall teachers and other affected workers, warning that the administration would enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against employees who stayed away from their duties because of the industrial action.

“I’ve directed the area councils to go back and call their teachers and civil servants. If anybody does this, we’ll implement ‘no work, no pay’,” he said.

Wike alleged that the FCT NLC chairman had previously contested an area council election on the platform of the ADC, suggesting that political interests were behind the strike.

He argued that the industrial action could disrupt academic activities and be used by political opponents to portray the FCT Administration as incapable of managing public education.

The minister maintained that the government had no unresolved dispute with teachers and insisted that agreements reached with relevant stakeholders were being implemented.

He also said labour leaders interested in partisan politics should relinquish their union positions rather than use organised labour to pursue political objectives.

Wike Orders Action Against Unauthorised Developments

The FCT minister also raised concerns over alleged attempts by some individuals to establish beer parlours, motor parks and other businesses in unauthorised locations between parts of Gwagwalada and Asokoro.

He said the developments had not received the necessary approvals and could create security challenges if allowed to continue.

Wike disclosed that he had directed the FCT urban control authorities to work with security agencies to remove the unauthorised operators before the situation escalated.

He insisted that the administration would not permit activities capable of undermining security or disrupting orderly development in the nation’s capital.

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