by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has fired back at former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi over remarks questioning his political relevance.
Appearing on Politics Today on Channels Television Thursday, Amaechi had downplayed Wike’s influence and dared him to prove his popularity with a walk from Abuja to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. He also described his wife, Judith, as an “industrialist.”
Responding on the same programme a day later, Wike dismissed that claim and called on President Bola Tinubu to release the forensic audit report on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), alleging it contains evidence linking Judith Amaechi to questionable financial dealings with the commission.
According to Wike, the report reveals that a company connected to Amaechi’s wife allegedly received N4 billion monthly from the NDDC under the guise of training women in the Niger Delta—amounting to N48 billion annually. He claimed the audit was suppressed by former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami to protect those who may have been implicated.
“Amaechi’s wife was not an industrialist—at least not from what I know,” Wike said. “Through her company, N4 billion was reportedly received each month to train women. That’s in the forensic report.”
Wike challenged the Tinubu administration to make the findings public.
“Who buried the report? It was Malami,” he alleged. “Mr. President should help Nigerians and release that forensic audit. Let’s see the truth.”
Wike went further, saying he would resign as FCT minister if the audit does not support his claims.
“If it turns out that what I’ve said isn’t in the report, I’ll step down. I don’t worship office,” he said.
He also dismissed Amaechi’s demand for respect based on age or political seniority.
“Respect is earned—not given because you were once governor or are older,” Wike said. “You’re not 200 years old. I started my political career before I met Amaechi.”
He added that he was elected chairman of Obio/Akpor local government in 1998, asserting that his political rise did not begin under Amaechi’s shadow.