Wike Warns Amaechi Over Anti-Tinubu Remarks, Says Rivers Campaign Could Be Difficult

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi against making further attacks on President Bola Tinubu, warning that such comments could make campaigning in Rivers State difficult for him.

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, is a running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking in Abuja on Friday after a meeting with chairmen of the FCT’s six area councils, Wike reacted to remarks reportedly made by Amaechi, who allegedly said that only thieves and mad people would vote for Tinubu.

“If he continues this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers. We will not take that. If security agencies and INEC can fold their hands, that’s their business, but we will not allow it,” Wike warned.

According to Wike, the remarks were aired on television and included comments about voters in Edo State.

“All of us watched on television yesterday where he said it’s only thieves that can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only mad people can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that if Edo people vote for him, it means Edo people are mad. This is supposedly a vice presidential candidate of a political party seeking to take over power,” the minister said.

Wike also criticised the handling of political campaigns in Nigeria, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies to sanction candidates and political parties whose campaigns involve incitement or personal attacks.

“You see one problem we have in this country is that agencies or commissions should be able to take their functions seriously. Many Nigerians have called INEC to sanction political parties, candidates, or some politicians who, in their campaigns, incite the public or raise matters that are not issue-based,” he said.

Turning to Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor, Wike demanded explanations concerning several projects and financial transactions he associated with the former governor’s administration.

“I have challenged him to tell Nigerians where is our $39 million cassava flour mill which you claimed you built? Where is the $10 million you paid to a Cuban company to fumigate Rivers State so there will be no mosquito bite? Where is the N68 billion monorail? Where is the $308 million you sold our gas turbine?

“Amaechi has looted the treasury. Ask him why he was indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry and why he went to court to challenge that indictment and lost at the Supreme Court,” Wike alleged.

The allegations against Amaechi were made by Wike during his remarks.

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