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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, have reignited their longstanding feud. Both were contenders in their respective party's presidential primaries this year but failed to secure the nomination.
Currently, Governor Wike is embroiled in a political clash within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly with presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
This dispute centers on Wike's refusal to press PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to step down in the interest of regional balance.
Amaechi, a former Rivers State governor, previously employed Wike as his chief of staff and nominated him as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan.
However, their relationship deteriorated when Amaechi switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and supported President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, while Wike contested and won the governorship under the PDP, defeating Amaechi's favored successor.
Recently, Amaechi expressed dissatisfaction at the burial of Tonye Graham-Douglas, a respected elder statesman in Port Harcourt, criticizing the state government's handling of the event despite Graham-Douglas's contributions.
In response, Governor Wike rebuked Amaechi during a project commissioning, labeling him a failure in the state's governance.
Wike defended his government's efforts to support Graham-Douglas during his illness, accusing Amaechi of politicizing the burial proceedings.
The exchange underscores the deep-seated animosity and political rivalry between the two leaders, both influential figures within Rivers State politics and beyond.