***Challenges Amaechi to explain $39m cassava mill, ₦68bn monorail projects
***Orders area councils to enforce ‘no work, no pay’ over FCT teachers’ strike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has threatened to make it difficult for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, to campaign in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections over alleged derogatory remarks against President Bola Tinubu and the President’s supporters.

Wike, who accused Amaechi of describing those willing to vote for Tinubu as thieves and mentally unstable, said the former Rivers State governor could not expect to make such statements without facing resistance from the President’s supporters in the state.

He, however, did not specify the nature of the resistance he envisaged, while insisting that Amaechi must withdraw the remarks and recognise that there were limits to political attacks.

The minister spoke in Abuja after a meeting, where he also dismissed the indefinite strike declared by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the FCT as politically motivated and directed the six area councils to enforce the no work, no pay policy against striking teachers.

Wike called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action against politicians who allegedly resort to personal attacks and inflammatory statements rather than issue-based campaigns.

He particularly faulted Amaechi for reportedly telling voters that only thieves would vote for Tinubu and that people who supported the President were mad.

According to Wike, the comments, which he said were made during a campaign-related engagement in Edo State, were inappropriate for someone seeking to occupy the highest political offices in the country.

The minister said: “All of us watched on television yesterday, where he said it’s only thieves that can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And also said that only mad people can go and vote for Ahmed Tinubu, and that if Edo people vote for him, it means Edo people are mad.”

Wike argued that political campaigns should focus on presenting alternatives to government policies and explaining what candidates intend to do differently if elected, rather than attacking individuals or insulting their supporters.

He accused INEC of failing to act against such statements, despite repeated calls for political parties and candidates to conduct issue-based campaigns.

The minister also criticised the media for what he described as selective scrutiny of political figures, alleging that similar remarks against the President or himself would have attracted more sustained coverage.

Wike subsequently challenged Amaechi to account for several projects and financial transactions associated with his tenure as Rivers State governor.

Among the issues he raised were the alleged expenditure of $39 million on a cassava flour mill that he claimed was never built, a ₦68 billion monorail project and a reported $10 million payment to a Cuban company for fumigation against mosquitoes.

He also questioned the reported sale of a state-owned gas turbine for $308 million, demanding explanations on the circumstances surrounding the transactions.

“Where is our $39 million cassava flour mill which you claimed that you built, and you refused to build? And, of course, you claimed you paid the $39 million USD. Where is the money?” Wike asked.

He further challenged Amaechi to explain the monorail project, asking: “And I’ve asked him, the ₦68 billion monorail, where is the monorail?”

The minister also questioned the reported fumigation contract, saying mosquitoes continued to bite residents despite the alleged expenditure, and demanded clarification on the gas turbine transaction.

Wike, however, did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations during the briefing.

The minister maintained that Amaechi should be held accountable for his record in office rather than be allowed to make sweeping allegations against the President and those supporting his re-election bid.

He also referred to a judicial panel of inquiry that allegedly indicted the former governor, challenging him to explain the circumstances of the findings and the outcome of his legal challenge.

Wike warned that Amaechi’s campaign activities in Rivers State could face opposition if he continued with the alleged insults against Tinubu and his supporters.

“If he continues this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers, the minister said.

He added that the former governor should withdraw the remarks, warning that the President’s supporters in the state would not accept what he described as an attempt to disparage them.

The comments signal a further escalation of the political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, both former governors of Rivers State, as political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections begin to take shape.

On the industrial dispute in the FCT, Wike dismissed the NLC’s declaration of an indefinite strike over teachers’ grievances, describing the action as politically motivated and insisting that there was no justification for shutting down schools.

He said the issues raised by the labour body had either been resolved or were being addressed by the relevant authorities, particularly those relating to promotions and other administrative matters affecting teachers in the area councils.

According to him, the leadership of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and representatives of senior primary school teachers had distanced themselves from the strike, arguing that the outstanding issues did not warrant industrial action.

“The issue of promotion is ongoing. The issue of director is an establishment matter,” he said.

Wike directed the area councils to recall teachers and other affected workers, warning that the government would enforce the no-work, no-pay policy against those who stayed away from their duties.

“I’ve directed the area councils to go back and call their teachers and civil servants. If anybody does this, we’ll implement ‘no work, no pay’,” he said.

The minister accused the NLC leadership in the FCT of using the dispute to pursue political interests, alleging that the council’s chairman had previously contested an area council election on the platform of the ADC.

He argued that the strike could disrupt academic activities and provide political ammunition to those seeking to portray the FCT administration as incapable of managing public education.

Wike insisted that the government had no unresolved dispute with the teachers, maintaining that agreements reached with the relevant stakeholders were being implemented.

He said labour leaders who wished to engage in partisan politics should relinquish their union positions rather than use organised labour to advance political interests.

The minister also raised concerns over alleged attempts by some individuals to establish beer parlours, motor parks and other businesses in unauthorised locations between parts of Gwagwalada and Asokoro.

He said the affected developments had not received the necessary approvals and could create security challenges if allowed to continue.

Wike disclosed that he had directed the FCT urban control authorities to work with security agencies to remove the unauthorised operators before the situation escalated.

He said the administration would not permit activities capable of undermining security and orderly development in the capital.