“I Created Wike’s Political Career – Amaechi Fires Shots in Explosive Interview”

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has asserted that he once held authority over the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stating that he hired him at a time when he had the power to reject him.

During an interview on Arise TV Tuesday night, Amaechi addressed questions about his current relationship with Wike. When asked whether they were friends, he replied, “I was once his boss, whether he accepts it or not. I hired him—I had the power to say no.”

When asked whether they now stood as equals, given that both are former governors, Amaechi quipped that he had served as Speaker of a State House of Assembly, a role Wike had never held.

On his recent detachment from the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite being a central figure in its 2015 victory as Director-General of the presidential campaign, Amaechi said he preferred not to discuss the party.

However, he expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for trusting him with significant responsibilities—first during the campaign and later as a minister.

“I’ll begin by appreciating Buhari,” he said. “Had he not appointed me as Director-General of the campaign, I probably wouldn’t have had that opportunity. He later made me Minister, and I did my best to serve in the Ministry of Transport.”