In a report by Leadership, Mr. Blessing Wikina, formerly the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Odili, discussed the political issues surrounding Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi. Wikina provided insights into their once-close relationship, highlighting Wike's previous role as a staunch supporter of Amaechi, during which time he even served as Amaechi's Chief of Staff. He noted that tensions began to brew as Wike diverged from Amaechi's political agenda, particularly by challenging Amaechi's preferred gubernatorial candidate and throwing his support behind the reelection bid of then-president Goodluck Jonathan. This shift in allegiance marked the beginning of a rift between Wike and Amaechi long before the 2015 elections.
According to Wikina, the political rival of Wike and Amaechi diverged sharply, with Amaechi eventually aligning himself with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and actively working against his former party both at the state and national levels. There were widespread perceptions that Amaechi played a significant role in financing the presidential campaign of Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. Meanwhile, Wike's actions were seen as a challenge to Amaechi's influence, particularly regarding the selection of a gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State and his support for Goodluck Jonathan's reelection bid.
The rift between Amaechi and Wike deepened over time, driven by conflicting political ambitions and diverging loyalties. Despite their shared history and past collaboration, their relationship became increasingly strained as they found themselves on opposing ends of the political spectrum.
Hear him: "Nyesom Wike was at one time a loyalist of Amaechi and even served as his Chief of Staff. But they found themselves on opposite sides of the political spectrum, with Amaechi working against his old party at both the state and national levels. It was widely believed that Amaechi bankrolled the presidential campaign of Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress. Wike, on the other hand, was challenging Amaechi’s preferred candidate for governor and throwing his weight behind the reelection of then president Goodluck Jonathan. Amaechi and Wike, however, fell apart long before the 2015 election."