A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly disputed recent claims made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding his family’s financial background and allegations against former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi’s wife.
The controversy stems from Wike’s recent appearance on Channels Television, where he asserted that he came from a wealthy family and attended school driving his own car, contrasting his background with that of his former political mentor, Rotimi Amaechi. During the same interview, Wike made serious allegations against Dame Judith Amaechi, claiming she received ₦4 billion monthly from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for training Niger Delta women.
Wike went further to challenge the credibility of his claims, stating he would resign from his ministerial position if a forensic audit report on the NDDC is released and fails to implicate Amaechi’s wife in any wrongdoing.
In a scathing response issued on Monday, Eze accused Wike of fabricating his personal history and presenting falsehoods to the Nigerian public. The APC chieftain painted a dramatically different picture of Wike’s upbringing, alleging that the FCT Minister’s family actually lived in poverty and relied on the assistance of his father’s friends to pay for his education.
“Trying to claim how rich his father was when poverty that radiated his family was as strong as the direct ray of sun, is denying his background,” Eze stated. He further claimed that Wike’s father had disowned him due to his character, and suggested that without financial assistance from family friends, Wike would never have completed his education.
Eze described Amaechi’s decision to mentor Wike as “the most significant error in his political journey,” criticizing the former Rivers State governor for helping Wike become a Local Government Chairman, appointing him as Chief of Staff, and later recommending him for ministerial appointment.
The APC chieftain also turned his attention to Wike’s allegations against Dame Judith Amaechi, describing her NDDC dealings as “genuine” while questioning the fitness of Wike’s own wife for her position as a judge. Eze suggested that being married to someone of Wike’s character could potentially compromise her judicial judgment.
“The business of Court is a noble one and the background of a Judge shapes his/her sense of judgement,” Eze argued, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Beyond the personal attacks, Eze criticized Wike’s tenure as Rivers State Governor, alleging that his primary legacy was the systematic destruction of development projects and policies initiated by Amaechi’s administration. He specifically cited the dismantling of agricultural programs that could have addressed current food security challenges and the elimination of educational initiatives and scholarship programs designed to position Rivers State as a center for human development.
The public dispute highlights the deepening rift between former political allies and adds another layer of controversy to Nigeria’s complex political landscape. The allegations and counter-allegations between the camps continue to dominate public discourse, with both sides making serious claims about corruption, family backgrounds, and political motivations.
