African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed recent attacks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying he does not respond to political subordinates.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Amaechi said Wike was not in a position to warrant a response from him.
“I don’t respond to my subordinates. Wike never hired me,” he said.
His remarks came hours after Wike described him as a “political liability” during a media briefing in Abuja.
The FCT minister also claimed that the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, chose Amaechi as his running mate because of financial considerations rather than electoral strength.
“If you are choosing a vice-presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi may be financial because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes,” Wike said.
Responding to the criticism, Amaechi said he was focused on mourning for now but would take a different approach once the election campaign begins.
“By the time we finish mourning and go into the campaigns, I’ll insult anybody who insults me,” he said.
Amaechi and Wike, both former governors of Rivers State, have maintained a long-running political rivalry that has shaped the state's politics for several years.
