NYESOM WIKE IS SHIVERING OVER ATIKU-AMAECHI PRESIDENTIAL TICKET, FEARS TINUBU’S DEFEAT — EZE
‘If Amaechi Has No Electoral Value, Why Is Wike So Worried?’ — ADC Chieftain Fires Back
By Emeka Amaefula
The political war of words over the 2027 presidential election has intensified, with Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of “shivering” over the emergence of former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate.
Eze, a close political associate of Amaechi and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), said Wike’s sustained criticism of Amaechi was evidence, in his view, that the FCT Minister was deeply concerned about the potential impact of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket on the 2027 presidential contest.
Wike has recently dismissed Amaechi’s political influence and questioned his capacity to deliver Rivers State votes for Atiku and the ADC, arguing that Amaechi would not constitute an electoral advantage for the opposition ticket.
But Eze fired back, asking why Wike would devote so much attention to a politician he claims has lost his electoral relevance.
“Wike knows that the Abubakar-Amaechi joint ticket portends great danger for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and his political establishment, which, in our assessment, has failed Nigerians.
“If Amaechi will not add electoral and triumphant value to the ADC’s quest to unseat Tinubu, why then is Wike shivering and casting aspersions on the person of his former boss, Amaechi?” Eze asked.
The ADC chieftain accused Wike of what he described as a pattern of political confrontation, personal attacks and ingratitude towards former political associates.
“Wike personifies ingratitude. He sees himself as a political Mr. Know-It-All, and that, in my view, is his greatest undoing. When a man becomes so carried away that he begins to see himself as a political demi-god, one day he will meet his Waterloo,” Eze stated.
He went further, describing the FCT Minister as a “serial blackmailer and backstabber,” while insisting that Wike’s attacks would neither diminish Amaechi’s political relevance nor derail the ADC’s 2027 presidential project.
Eze said Wike’s latest comments could not be divorced from the long and sometimes bitter political history between the two Rivers politicians.
He recalled that Wike served as Chief of Staff to Amaechi during Amaechi’s tenure as Governor of Rivers State, arguing that the political history between the two men should be considered when Nigerians assess their present confrontation.
“This is not the time to remind Nigerians that the same Wike was appointed Chief of Staff by Amaechi when he was Governor of Rivers State. Political history cannot simply be rewritten because former allies have become political adversaries,” Eze said.
The former nPDP spokesman said he would ordinarily have ignored Wike’s latest remarks but for what he described as the Minister’s repeated references to Amaechi whenever the 2027 political contest is discussed.
“Ordinarily, I would not have been tempted to respond to what I consider roadside political talk. Refined politicians, gentlemen and democrats should debate policies, programmes and the future of democratic governance rather than engage endlessly in personal attacks,” he stated.
Eze also threw a fresh challenge to Wike, urging him to document his political career in a biography so Nigerians could examine his political journey, achievements and relationships for themselves.
“Wike attends book launches and political colloquiums. I challenge him to author his biography or commission a credible person to document his political journey. Let Nigerians read the story and make their own judgments,” he said.
Defending Amaechi’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate, Eze said the former Rivers governor possesses the political experience, administrative exposure and national network required to contribute significantly to the ADC presidential campaign.
“Amaechi is an experienced democrat, a tested political leader and a man with considerable goodwill, charisma and national exposure.
“Amaechi is an epitome of integrity and honesty. He is a man of his word, loyal, transparent and accountable for the decisions and actions he takes. Above all, he is a team player,” Eze declared.
He further described Amaechi as a good listener and an experienced manager of people and resources, insisting that his record in public administration gives him the requisite exposure for the office of Vice President.
“Amaechi has the exposure and experience required to serve as Vice President of Nigeria. He understands public administration, political organisation and the complexities of governing a diverse country like Nigeria,” Eze said.
The ADC chieftain also described Amaechi as a politician committed to constitutional democracy, the rule of law, human rights and national inclusion.
“He has high regard for human rights and the protection of the rights and freedoms of Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious or political backgrounds,” he stated.
Eze argued that the political significance of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket should not be measured merely by the number of votes one individual politician can supposedly deliver, stressing that the 2027 election would be shaped by national issues, political alliances, voter sentiment and the records of the competing political parties.
He alleged that Wike was particularly uncomfortable with the possibility of the ADC emerging as a formidable opposition platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Wike has suddenly developed cold feet because he knows what the name Amaechi represents in Nigeria’s contemporary politics. He knows the political weight of Amaechi and understands why his emergence as Atiku’s running mate has changed the conversation ahead of 2027,” Eze declared.
Wike has maintained that Rivers State should not be assumed to belong to the opposition in 2027 and has questioned Amaechi’s ability to deliver the state for Atiku. He has also described Amaechi’s presence on the ticket as a disadvantage to Atiku’s presidential ambition.
But Eze dismissed the argument as political posturing.
“Wike knows that the Abubakar-Amaechi ticket can significantly alter the political calculations ahead of 2027. If Amaechi has no electoral value, as Wike claims, why has he devoted so much attention to attacking him?” he asked.
He maintained that Amaechi’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate had injected fresh political momentum into the ADC campaign and could attract Nigerians seeking an alternative to the governing APC.
“Wike is worried because Amaechi is coming. The political terrain is changing, and Nigerians are watching. The people will ultimately decide who they trust with the future of the country,” Eze declared.
The ADC chieftain urged Nigerians not to be distracted by political name-calling but to carefully scrutinize the records, policies, competence and credibility of all presidential candidates and political parties ahead of the 2027 election.
He also urged Nigerians seeking political change to remain actively engaged in the democratic process and make their choices based on what he described as the need for accountable, constitutional and people-oriented governance.
Eze said political opponents should not underestimate the potential impact of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket, stressing that the ultimate power lies with Nigerian voters.
“The 2027 election will not be decided by the declarations of one politician. It will be decided by the Nigerian people. Let every political party present its record, its programme and its candidates, and let the people decide,” Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said.
— Emeka Amaefula
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