Amaechi’s and ambition, ‘dead on arrival’- Wike

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says Rotimi Amaechi is cocksure that his presidential ambition is like ‘a bucket of water off a duck’s back’.

Describing Amaechi’s presidential bid as “dead on arrival”, Wike, in a cajoling manner, insisted that the former Rivers knew that “he won’t get ADC’s ticket.”

It will be recalled that Amaechi who was a former minister of transportation had on August 9, boasted about his envisaged victory over the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential 2027 elections if he clinches the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.

Speaking further, Amaechi, amidst self appraisal, commended himself for abstaining from all manners of election rigging, while promising to put an end to corruption within a fraction of one month, if elected president.

Hear him:
“If I become president, I will change the constitution from indigeneship to citizenship. If I do not end corruption in Nigeria within one month, I will tender my resignation,” Amaechi had said.

However, speaking on Tuesday during his appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme, Wike said Amaechi was certain that he would not get the ADC presidential ticket.

“He knows he won’t get the ticket,” Wike said.

Continuing, Wike said: “I read that he said he knows the weaknesses of the president, so he knows how to defeat him. But he also knew the weaknesses of the president in 2022 when the president defeated him mercilessly in the primary.

“Nigerians know the last person they will give a ticket to because they know it; (Amaechi’s bid) is dead on arrival.”

Amaechi finished second in the 2022 presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was won by Tinubu.

Speaking further, Wike accused Amaechi of lacking credibility on governance and anti-corruption, stressing that the former Minister had no respect for the judiciary or the rule of law while he was Rivers governor.

Recall that Amaechi handed over to his successor, Wike, in the year 2015, having been the Governor of Rivers State from the year 2007 up until the emergence of the FCT Minister who in return governed the state for a period of eight years.