In a blistering interview on Arise Television, former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, took aim at his political rival Nyesom Wike, the current INEC Chairman, and the political establishment, while defending his tenure as a silent achiever in office.
Speaking with characteristic candour, Amaechi dismissed claims that he had once offered Wike the role of Commissioner for Finance during his administration in Rivers State. “I wanted him (Wike) as Chief of Staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him Commissioner for Finance. I’m only saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children,” he said.
“He made himself Chief of Staff, he made himself governor, he made himself minister, he made himself local government chairman,” Amaechi said. maechi also took a swipe at the current Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), suggesting that if he had been in office during the 2015 general elections, the opposition would have failed to gain power.
“The current chairman of INEC can only be compared to Maurice Iwu. If he had been in charge in 2015, we wouldn’t have won. May God bless Attahiru Jega. “Jega opened the door for APC’s registration because we complied. The current INEC is biased—even if you comply, he still won’t register you,” he added.
On infrastructure, Amaechi appeared to throw jabs at current political figures, possibly alluding to Wike again, criticising what he described as overhyped achievements. “People building flyovers here are making noise. I built six flyovers and didn’t call the president to commission them. I built primary schools and secondary schools that people now call universities.” The former minister also recounted his legacy as a deliverer of critical national infrastructure, including several railway and port projects.
“Don’t give me an assignment if you don’t want results. I began and completed the Lagos-Ibadan railway. I completed the Lekki Deep Seaport. I finished the inland dry port in Kano. I started the Kano-Kaduna railway and completed the Kaduna-Abuja line.” Reinforcing his seniority over Wike, Amaechi stated: “I was once his boss, whether he likes it or not. I hired him; I could have said no
