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• Challenges Amaechi to account for alleged $39m cassava mill, $10m fumigation deal
• accuses ex-Rivers governor of insulting Tinubu’s supporters
• Threatens to make Rivers hostile to ADC chieftain’s campaign
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering attack on former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, describing him as a “lunatic” and accusing him of mismanaging public funds, while declaring that people like him cannot become Nigeria’s president.
Wike spoke on Friday at his Life Camp residence in Abuja after a meeting with area council chairmen, where he also accused the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of declaring an indefinite strike in the FCT for political reasons.
Reacting to Amaechi’s reported description of supporters of President Bola Tinubu as thieves and mad people, Wike challenged the former governor to account for several projects and transactions he alleged were questionable during his tenure in Rivers State.
He cited an alleged $39 million payment for a cassava flour mill, $10 million for a mosquito fumigation exercise and a ₦68 billion monorail project, as well as the sale of a state gas turbine for $308 million.
“Who can be a bigger thief than Amaechi?” Wike asked, alleging that the former governor had mismanaged public funds.
He challenged the media to question Amaechi over the transactions, accusing journalists of failing to scrutinise the allegations because they involved an opposition figure.
“A man who wants to be a presidential candidate, a vice-presidential candidate of a country, cannot account for paying humongous amounts of $39 million for a project that does not exist,” he said.
Wike also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action over what he described as inflammatory campaign rhetoric, arguing that politicians should focus on issues and policy proposals rather than personal attacks.
He said Amaechi’s reported comments about Tinubu’s supporters were unbecoming of a politician seeking national office.
The FCT minister further warned that Amaechi could face difficulties campaigning in Rivers State if he continued making such statements.
“If he continues this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers,” Wike said, adding that the former governor should withdraw the comments.
The minister’s remarks came amid growing political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general election, with Amaechi emerging as a prominent opposition figure aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Wike orders FCT workers to resume
Turning to the proposed indefinite strike in the FCT, Wike described the NLC’s directive as political and insisted that there was no justification for the action over the dispute between the FCT Administration and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
He said issues relating to teachers’ promotions were being addressed, while the matter concerning directors was an establishment issue outside the jurisdiction of local education authorities to alter.
“The issue of promotion is ongoing. The issue of director is an establishment matter, which LCD cannot come now to change,” he said.
Wike directed area council chairmen to call teachers and civil servants back to work, warning that the administration would enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against workers who participated in the strike.
“We cannot continue with this. Enough is enough,” he said.
He alleged that the NLC’s FCT chairman had a political interest in the dispute, claiming that the union leader had contested an area council election on the platform of the ADC.
Wike accused the labour leadership of attempting to use the dispute to create a crisis in the FCT and undermine public confidence in the administration.
He maintained that agreements reached with the relevant parties were being implemented and questioned the basis for the strike.
The minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration had directed urban control officials, working with security agencies, to remove unauthorised businesses, including beer parlours and motor parks, reportedly being established in parts of the territory over concerns about potential security risks.
