Amaechi will be caged politically, Wike shouldn’t bother about Ikwerre votes — Wihioka

 

A former member of the House of Representatives, Chidi Wihioka, has declared that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, will be politically “caged”, while advising the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, not to be worried about securing the votes of the Ikwerre people.

 

Wihioka made the declaration in a fresh political confrontation involving some of the major political actors in Rivers State, according to a report published by Daily Post on Thursday.

 

The former lawmaker’s comments have added another dimension to the intense political rivalry involving Amaechi, Wike and other influential figures in the state.

 

Wihioka was quoted as saying that political forces opposed to Amaechi would prevent him from gaining the upper hand in the unfolding political contest.

 

He reportedly declared, “We’ll cage him,” in reference to Amaechi, while dismissing concerns about the former governor’s political influence.

 

The statement is expected to generate reactions among supporters of the former governor, who remains one of the prominent political figures to have emerged from Rivers State.

 

Wihioka also reportedly told Wike not to bother about the votes of the Ikwerre people, suggesting that the former governor should focus on the broader political contest rather than being overly concerned about Amaechi’s influence within the Ikwerre political bloc.

 

The comment is significant because both Amaechi and Wike are from Rivers State and have, at different times, relied on extensive political structures and alliances across the state.

 

The struggle for political influence in Rivers has frequently featured the question of who controls key voting blocs, particularly in areas regarded as politically influential.

 

Amaechi and Wike were once members of the same political family before becoming fierce political opponents.

 

Amaechi, who served as Rivers governor from 2007 to 2015, later became Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Wike succeeded him as governor and subsequently became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

 

Their political rivalry has remained one of the defining features of Rivers State politics, with both camps repeatedly clashing over control of the state’s political structure.

 

Wihioka was himself previously associated with the Amaechi political camp but later became critical of the former governor.

 

The latest comments therefore underscore the continuing realignment of political forces in Rivers State as politicians and their supporters position themselves for future electoral battles.

 

The renewed exchange comes against the backdrop of increasing political activity across Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Rivers State remains strategically important because of its population, economic significance and political influence in the South-South region.

 

With major political figures already positioning themselves and forming alliances, statements such as Wihioka’s are likely to further heighten political tensions and trigger counter-reactions from rival camps.

 

As the political contest gathers momentum, the battle for influence over Rivers’ voting blocs is expected to intensify, with Amaechi, Wike and their respective allies likely to remain at the centre of the state’s political calculations.

 

Amaechi will be caged politically, Wike shouldn’t bother about Ikwerre votes — Wihioka