Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has lambasted former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, following his recent criticism of the Nigerian government.
Olayinka, in a fiery post on X, accused Amaechi of hypocrisy, stating that the former minister has spent the majority of his adult life in government, yet now chooses to blame the system he helped shape.
“After spending 23 years in government, Rotimi Amaechi is still blaming the government.
8 years as Speaker, 8 years as Governor, and 7 years as Minister.
Some people sha no get shame.
Since 1999, Rotimi Amaechi has only been out of Govt for just TWO YEARS,” he wrote.
The criticism follows Amaechi’s remarks at his 60th birthday celebration in Abuja, where he claimed that he and most Nigerians are hungry and suggested that the opposition coalition can remove President Bola Tinubu from office.
Amaechi also took a swipe at Nigeria’s political class, stating that there are no real ideas driving governance, only a fight over how to share the nation’s resources.
Olayinka did not hold back in his response, suggesting that Amaechi’s hunger claim is disingenuous:
“Rotimi Amaechi said he is hungry, and you are supporting him because you don’t like those in govt now.”
The spat adds another chapter to the long-running political rivalry between Amaechi and Wike, both of whom have dominated Rivers State politics for decades and remain key figures in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Reactions
The clash has sparked mixed reactions online:
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Supporters of Olayinka and Wike accuse Amaechi of lacking self-awareness and playing the victim.
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Amaechi’s backers, however, argue that his criticism is valid and reflects the worsening economic reality under the current administration.
As Nigeria edges closer to the 2027 elections, tensions among political heavyweights continue to rise, setting the stage for what may be another fiercely contested political season.
