Abuja — Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Friday launched a sharp personal attack on former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, branding him a “thief” and “lunatic” after Amaechi told voters in Edo State that only madmen and thieves would support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting with FCT area council chairmen, Wike rejected Amaechi’s remarks and questioned the former Rivers State governor’s own record. “He said those who want to vote for Tinubu are thieves. So, I’m a thief? That’s what he’s saying. But who can be a bigger thief than Amaechi?” Wike said, according to multiple reports. He also warned that Amaechi would face difficulty campaigning in Rivers State if he continued in that vein and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to sanction what he described as irresponsible and inciting language.
The exchange was widely shared online. An X post by the account NigeriaStories summarised the clash and included video, drawing thousands of views and dozens of replies within hours. The account’s report aligns with coverage from Nigerian outlets including Naija News, Punch and the News Agency of Nigeria.
Public reaction on the post was largely critical of Wike. Among the comments were:
- “Amaechi is just starting, you are barking. Let’s watch the drama.”
- “Nyesom can you just shut up your mouth for a while. Since APC got into power, you’ve been running your mouth like tap water.”
- “Wike knows he’s a madman. Wike’s time will come to realize that he’s really a madman.”
- “If Amaechi was thief, you and your APC cronies would have sent him to jail since… Wike rest joor.”
- “Wike is calling Amaechi a thief. The question is who is the biggest thief, because it is only a thief that knows a thief.”
The war of words between the two long-time political rivals from Rivers State adds another layer of tension to the early positioning for the 2027 presidential contest.
0 Comments
What is your take on this?