Video: ‘Hungry for power, not food,’ Wike slams Amaechi for lies on hunger at 60th birthday

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has strongly rebuked former Transportation Minister and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over his recent claim of hunger during his 60th birthday celebration.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike said, “I don’t know why a man would choose his 60th birthday to tell lies to Nigerians, it’s unfortunate”.

He emphasised that Amaechi, who has held various top public offices for over two decades, including Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly (1999-2007), Governor (2007-2015), and Minister of Transportation (2015-2023), had never spoken about hunger during his tenure.

Wike accused Amaechi of being “hungry for power, not food,” stating, “He joined Atiku and El-Rufai because he is hungry. He can’t just stay out of power”.

He added, “How do you insult Nigerians? How do you trivialize the issue of hunger or poverty? He is only hungry for power and that shows failure on his part”.

Amaechi had declared at his birthday event, “We’re all hungry, all of us are. If you’re not hungry, I am. For us, the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power, we can remove him from this power”.

Wike dismissed this as a political ploy, criticising Amaechi’s timing and sincerity.

This latest exchange highlights the ongoing political rivalry between the two prominent Rivers State politicians, with Wike defending the current government’s record against Amaechi’s opposition stance.