Respect Is Earned Through Integrity and Honour, Not Age, Wike Replies Amaechi

 Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has fired back at former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, asserting that respect is earned through integrity and honour, not age or seniority. 

Wike dismissed Amaechi’s recent claims of political mentorship, saying, “You don’t get respect because you are 200 years old. It’s about the integrity you carry and the honour you’ve built.” The retort follows Amaechi’s assertion of guiding Wike’s early career, which Wike countered by highlighting his 1998 victory as Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman, predating their association.

Wike, who served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, accused him of leveraging past roles, Speaker (8 years), Governor (8 years), and Minister (8 years), to mask personal failings, including accepting a Rolls Royce as a bribe. 

The feud, rooted in their Rivers State rivalry, has escalated with Wike challenging Amaechi’s narrative of a self-made wife, Judith, whom he claims lacks industrial credentials. Supported by 60% of FCT residents per a local poll, Wike’s stance reflects a broader call for accountability, with 5,000 supporters rallying outside his office. The exchange signals a deepening rift ahead of 2027, with both eyeing political comebacks.