…Says Rotimi Amaechi’s presidential ambition dead on arrival

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Tuesday explained why former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal is attacking President Bola Tinubu.

Wike said Lawal, expressed anger after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2023.

The Minister who spoke as a guest on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television Politics Today programme, monitored by our correspondent, defended Tinubu against claims that his administration is unapproachable, stressing that the President cannot personally attend to everyone.

He maintained governance involves teamwork and Nigerians should engage Ministers and presidential Special Advisers rather than expect direct access to the President.

Wike said Lawal visited him in his Port Harcourt residence shortly after the announcement was made.

According to him, Lawal was visibly upset because he had expected Tinubu to choose him as vice president.

“After President Tinubu chose Shettima as his VP, Babachir Lawal came to my house in Port Harcourt. He was angry because he thought the president would pick him as vice president,” Wike said.

The revelation comes days after Lawal, in a separate appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, claimed he would not have lasted in Tinubu’s cabinet had he been appointed.

Lawal, a strong critic of the administration, further argued that President Tinubu did not win the 2023 election, insisting that the results available to him at the time showed otherwise.

When asked if the government was approachable, Wike responded: “Of course.”

His remarks followed a recent comment by Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who had described Tinubu and his administration as unapproachable.

“When you say Mr President is unapproachable, and the government is unapproachable, what do you call a government?” Wike asked.

“I am the Minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Z is a Minister in charge of Interior, Mrs O is a Minister in charge of Trade, Investment and Industry. Must everybody reach Mr President? Is that the way the government runs?

“If everybody in this country refuses to reach out to ministers or special advisers and just wants to see Mr President, how many people can he attend to at a time? I am a minister, if you have a problem regarding the activities in the FCT, have you tried to reach out to the FCT minister?” he asked.

Wike argued that the government deserves commendation for recent successes in the fight against terrorism.

He disclosed that foreign governments such as the United States and United Kingdom have praised Nigeria’s security agencies for their operations.

“For some time now, look at the steps the government has been taking. For the first time, look at the United States, United Kingdom commending the Nigerian government.

“Terrorists have been looking for years to destroy our efforts but our security agencies were able to penetrate them. And America and the UK commended us more than anything,” Wike said.

The Minister acknowledged that Nigerians are enduring tough times due to reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, but maintained that the sacrifices are necessary.

According to him, while petrol prices initially surged after subsidy removal, they have “started coming down a bit,” showing signs of market adjustment.

He stressed rural and urban residents are affected by the state of the economy, dismissing claims that only people in villages bear the brunt of hardship.

“You cannot say only those living in rural areas are suffering. Those in the city also feel the pain when the economy is bad. Every Nigerian is entitled to have a good living,” he said.

Wike also responded to opposition voices, including his longtime political rival and former Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who has criticised Tinubu’s administration.

He accused Amaechi of lacking the moral authority to speak on corruption, citing unresolved issues from his time as governor.

According to him: “A man comes to tell you he will solve the issue of corruption in one month. But this same man closed down the State High Court for almost two years. Can such a man really fight corruption?”

The Minister referenced judicial inquiries which he said indicted Amaechi.

“He was really indicted. He went to court. The court said, yes, the panel was right. He went to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal said the panel was right. He went to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment,” he said.

The former Rivers gyovernor further alleged that Amaechi mismanaged several projects, including the state’s monorail and other investments, while questioning the transparency of certain financial dealings under his administration.

“Our gas provider, 380 million US dollars, he sold it to the Sahara. Where is the money? Which account did he pay to? He spent 30 million US dollars on Kalibu Heart Hospital. Where is the foundation of the hospital? He spent N74 billion on the monorail. Where is the monorail?” Wike stated.

The Minister said the presidential ambition of Rotimi Amaechi is dead on arrival.

Wike said Nigerians won’t give Amaechi a chance in the 2027 election.

Amaechi, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition determined to wrest power from President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 poll, came second after in the 2022 APC presidential primary won by ex-Lagos governor Tinubu.

In 2025, Amaechi dumped the APC and moved to the ADC, seeking the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.

However, Wike, who incidentally shared a common history with Amaechi as former Rivers Governor, said his predecessor won’t get the ADC ticket for the 2027 poll.

The FCT minister said: “He (Amaechi) knows he won’t get the ticket. I read that he said he knows the weaknesses of the President, so he knows how to defeat him but he also knew the weaknesses of the President in 2022 when the president defeated him mercilessly in the primary.”