Amaechi reveals why he appointed Wike as Chief of Staff, not finance commissioner

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has opened up on why he chose Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as his Chief of Staff during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State.

Amaechi explained that he deliberately appointed Wike as Chief of Staff instead of making him Commissioner for Finance, saying he wanted to “monitor him closely” while in office.

The revelation adds another layer to the ongoing political rift between the two former allies turned rivals.

The disclosure follows a recent exchange between the two political heavyweights. Wike had earlier dismissed Amaechi’s remark at his 60th birthday celebration, where the former governor said, “We’re all hungry.” Wike responded by saying Amaechi wasn’t hungry for food, but for political relevance.

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But Amaechi also disputed Wike’s imputation that he was instrumental to him (Amaechi) becoming governor, stressing that God, former Governor Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people were responsible for his election.

Featuring on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday evening, Amaechi stated that as someone who hired Wike as chief of staff, he could not trade insults with him in public.

“God, Peter Odili, the judiciary and the Rivers state people made me governor,” he said.

“Ask him how he made me governor. I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.

“I wanted him as chief of staff so I could supervise him. I didn’t offer him commissioner for finance. You see, I’m saying this because I don’t want to join issues with children.

“You know, he made himself chief of staff. He made himself governor. He made himself minister. He made himself local government chairman.”