A Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Princewill Dike, has thrown his weight behind recent remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on the political standing of former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
In a statement by the Princewill Dike Platform, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, Dike said Wike’s comments reflected the political realities in Rivers State, insisting that Amaechi’s electoral record speaks for itself.
According to Dike, Wike’s assertion that Amaechi failed to secure the constitutionally required 25 percent of votes for former President Muhammadu Buhari in Rivers State during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections is a matter of public record.
He noted that “despite serving as Governor of Rivers State and later as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi could not secure the electoral outcome expected of him in the state while serving as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in 2015 and 2019.”
Dike also aligned with Wike’s position that Amaechi was unable to produce a political successor at the end of his tenure as governor, describing the development as a significant indicator of his alleged declining political influence.
He maintained that the comments were not personal attacks but an objective assessment of political performance based on publicly available electoral records.
According to him, politics should be measured by tangible achievements and electoral outcomes rather than the offices previously occupied by political actors.
Dike further observed that Rivers State’s political landscape has evolved, with voters becoming increasingly discerning in evaluating those seeking elective office.
Expressing confidence in the democratic process, he said the 2027 general elections would provide another opportunity for the electorate to determine the relevance and acceptability of political leaders in the state.
He urged that “Wike’s remarks be viewed within the broader context of democratic engagement and political accountability instead of personal rivalry”.
Dike also called on political leaders and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the next general elections.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Princewill Dike Platform to promoting issue-based political discourse and encouraging citizens to assess leaders based on their performance, credibility and commitment to public service.
Blessing Ibunge
