Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi expresses reluctance to discuss Governor Nyesom Wike, stating that Wike was once under his leadership, reflecting on their complicated political relationship in Rivers State.

Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, has stated that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), came through him.

Amaechi, who expressed a reluctance to mention Wike’s name, noted that the FCT Minister worked under him during his tenure as governor of the state.

In an interview with Ebere TV, the former Minister of Transportation mentioned that Wike served as his Chief of Staff during his tenure as governor.

He mentioned, “When I took on the role of governor, Wike stepped into the position of Chief of Staff – although I’m not fond of mentioning his name. Can you name a politician from Rivers who hasn’t been influenced by me?”

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At 22, I entered the political arena and quickly found there were two distinct factions: Rufus George’s camp, which was impoverished with barely enough food to eat, and Abule’s prosperous camp that attracted many people eager to join.

However, those of us who cared about character—something my father instilled in me—stood by Rufus without knowing whether we would win or not.

“In the end, God guided us to victory and we took on leadership roles. He became governor while I was appointed as Special Assistant.”

Similarly with Odili, even though he lacked financial resources, we supported him because it was about character. The politicians of that era were different from those we have today.

For anyone who has been through my guidance, the first lesson is about honesty. If they are honest, then they have succeeded.