Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Rivers State indigenes to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, saying the president has demonstrated sufficient commitment to the state and its people.

Wike spoke on Saturday at a civic reception held in his honour at Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He said Tinubu had earned the recognition of being a “brother” to Rivers people by identifying with the state’s challenges and taking steps to address them.

“Brotherhood, according to Amaechi, is not about blood relationship but about survival.

“When Jonathan was president, our brother, Amaechi, said Jonathan never cared for us and therefore could not be our brother.

“He told us that Muhammadu Buhari was our brother because Buhari would identify with us and relate with us.

“Tinubu has identified with us. He has related with us. He has understood our problems and helped solve them. Therefore, by the definition of brotherhood that Amaechi himself gave us, Tinubu is our brother,” Wike said.

Wike attacks Amaechi

Wike also criticised Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election, accusing him of neglecting Rivers State while in office.

The FCT minister questioned what Amaechi achieved for the state during his tenure as transportation minister.

“Now that he wants to run for vice-president, we must ask: what happened during all the years he was minister of transportation?” Wike asked.

“Did he relate with us? Did he think about our problems? Did he bring anything here?

“Rather, you sent a university to Daura because you thought that would make you president. Did it make you president?”

Wike alleged that Amaechi facilitated the establishment of the Federal University of Transportation in Daura, Katsina State, the hometown of former President Muhammadu Buhari, in pursuit of his presidential ambition.

He said Amaechi had previously argued that brotherhood was not necessarily based on blood ties but on standing by people in times of difficulty and identifying with their challenges.

According to Wike, Amaechi had used that definition to argue during the Jonathan administration that the former president could not be regarded as a “brother” to Rivers people, while presenting Buhari as one.

Wike said Amaechi’s record in office contradicted the same definition of brotherhood he had previously advanced.

Amaechi resigned as transportation minister in 2022 to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, which was won by Tinubu.