‘Where was ambulance?’ – Wike questions Amaechi’s son’s participation in protest
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused some opposition figures of engaging in political showmanship over recent demonstrations calling for the electronic transmission of election results.
His public lecture on Tuesday at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Abuja, titled “The Impact of Political Leadership on Infrastructural Development in Nigeria: Between Dividends of Democracy and Good Governance,” included pointed criticism of a former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who was seen at the protest venue alongside his son, a medical doctor.
Amaechi and son joined a protest last week to call for the Senate to include real-time transmission of election results to the IReV portal of INEC in the Electoral Act.
Questioning the optics of Amaechi’s participation, Wike said the former governor claimed he brought his son to attend to any protesters who might be injured. The FCT minister dismissed the explanation as a staged act that lacked seriousness and preparation.
“He said he came with his son, who is a medical doctor, to treat anyone who might be injured. But where was the ambulance? Where was the medical equipment? You cannot treat people with empty hands,” he stated.
Wike argued that the move was designed to appeal emotionally to the public rather than offer genuine support, insisting that leadership should be about real action, not “theatrical displays” aimed at misleading young people.
The former Rivers State governor also said the sudden advocacy for electronic transmission by Amaechi and other opposition leaders reflects political opportunism. He noted that many of those now championing electoral reforms were silent on such issues while they occupied positions of influence in government.
“When they are out of office, they suddenly become the voice of the people,” Wike remarked. He described the current agitation as “transactional,” suggesting that it is driven by personal political interests rather than a sincere desire to strengthen democracy.
Addressing students, Wike urged them to remain alert to political manipulation, stressing that the true “dividends of democracy” are found in infrastructure development and strong institutions, not protest slogans.
He added that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is focused on what he described as “purposeful leadership,” taking difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions today to secure a better future for Nigerians.
