Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to point to specific projects and political opportunities he attracted to Evo Kingdom and Rivers State during his 24 years in senior public office.

Wike made the remarks on Friday while interacting with leaders and stakeholders from Evo Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he also spoke about the importance of empowering younger leaders and building political structures capable of surviving beyond the tenure of individual officeholders.

According to Wike, Amaechi’s years in public office included eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and another eight years as Minister of Transportation. He questioned what, in his view, could be identified as a lasting development or political legacy from those positions.

“What can anybody point to that he attracted to Evo Kingdom or Rivers State in all those 24 years?” Wike asked, while contrasting Amaechi’s record with his own account of projects secured for Rivers State during his time as Minister of State for Education.

The FCT minister's comments are part of the continuing political disagreement between the two former Rivers State leaders, whose relationship has evolved from political allies to prominent rivals ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amaechi is currently associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Wike, although still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has publicly declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Wike also used the meeting to argue that political leadership should not be measured solely by the positions an individual occupies, but also by the people empowered and institutions established to continue functioning after the officeholder leaves.

He criticised what he described as a practice of political leaders concentrating opportunities around themselves rather than creating room for others from their communities to rise into positions of responsibility.

The minister said he did not want a situation where political progress in a community depended on a single individual, arguing that genuine leadership should leave behind structures and successors capable of sustaining development.

He also reflected on his own political career, saying he had no desire to return to positions he had previously occupied.

Wike noted that he had served as governor of Rivers State and had held ministerial office twice, adding that he had no interest in returning to the chairmanship of a local government council. He said his principal personal request was for good health and longevity.

The minister further maintained that his political decisions were driven by his convictions rather than fear of political opponents or traditional practices. He also spoke about the importance of faith and personal responsibility in politics, cautioning his supporters against placing absolute trust in promises made by politicians.

Wike recalled his administration's handling of the traditional institution in Rivers State, saying measures were taken during his tenure as governor to improve Evo Kingdom's representation on the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The meeting also had a political dimension, with traditional and community leaders expressing support for Wike and the political arrangement through which he is mobilising support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Wike's so-called Rainbow Coalition has become an increasingly visible part of the political debate ahead of 2027. He has described the arrangement as a cross-party effort focused primarily on supporting Tinubu for president, while maintaining that political actors involved can have different choices in governorship and legislative contests.

However, the arrangement has also generated disagreement among some APC governors and other political actors, with critics questioning its implications for party structures and electoral contests.

At the Evo Kingdom meeting, Eze Temple Ejekwu and Elder Peter Chinwo, President of the Evo Assembly, were among those reported to have expressed support for Wike and the political candidates associated with the coalition.

The latest exchange adds another chapter to the long-running political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, which has become more prominent as Nigeria's political parties and alliances position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.