Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, has announced his impartiality in the ongoing conflict between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Fubara, who assumed office as governor in May 2023, previously served as the accountant-general under Wike’s administration. Initially, Wike supported Fubara’s campaign for governorship, but their relationship soured shortly after Fubara took office. This disagreement has caused a significant division within the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In December 2023, a significant shift occurred when 27 assembly members loyal to Wike defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During a recent visit to Okorinama West, an APC leader in Port Harcourt, Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, made it clear that he would not take sides between Fubara and Wike.
Amaechi suggested that Fubara’s popularity primarily stems from his opposition to Wike rather than his own accomplishments.
“Many of our supporters who cannot endure hardship have aligned themselves with either Sim or Wike. I will not join them. I will not support Sim, nor will I support Wike,” Amaechi stated.
He emphasized the significance of grassroots support in political prominence, stating, “No leader is significant without the support of the people. If you observe the political landscape in Rivers State, more people are aligned with us than with Sim. Sim’s perceived popularity today is a result of his stance against Wike, not because he is exceptionally outstanding. The weariness of the state with Wike has elevated Sim’s status.”
Wike, who succeeded Amaechi and initially served as his chief of staff, established his own political influence through his opposition to Amaechi.
The rift between the two deepened after Amaechi joined the APC and supported Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, while Wike, running for governor under the PDP, backed Goodluck Jonathan.
