Wike Alleges Amaechi Ordered His 2019 Assassination

The long-standing political feud between two former Rivers State Governors, Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi, has taken a dramatic and dangerous turn with a new and shocking allegation. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that a military general was ordered to assassinate him during the highly contentious 2019 general elections, and that the directive came directly from his predecessor, Amaechi. The allegations, made during a Channels Television interview on Thursday, have sent shockwaves across the country, reviving the bitter memories of a period of widespread political violence and military involvement in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Wike specifically named a “General Saham,” who was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army at the time. Dependable NG confirms that Major General Jamil Sarham assumed the role of GOC of the 6 Division in Port Harcourt in August 2018, placing him in command during the period of the 2019 elections. Wike alleged that Amaechi, who was the Minister of Transportation under the Buhari administration, had promised to make the general the next Chief of Army Staff if he carried out the plot. “General Saham, former General Officer Commanding 6 Division, tried to kill me. Amaechi promised to make him the next Chief of Staff,” Wike stated. The former governor further claimed that the general, in a shocking display of disregard for due process, ordered that he should be shot. “General Saham ordered that as a sitting governor that I should be shot. And when the Colonel refused, he was detained for six months,” Wike alleged, revealing a potential act of insubordination by a subordinate officer that could have led to a catastrophic constitutional crisis.

The gravity of Wike’s claims must be understood within the context of the 2019 general elections in Rivers State, a period documented by both local and international observers as one of the most violent in recent history. Dependable NG confirms that reports from organizations such as the European Union Election Observation Mission and the CLEEN Foundation detailed widespread violence, voter intimidation, and partisan military involvement in the state. Reports at the time claimed that soldiers were seen invading collation centers, obstructing observers, and engaging in acts of violence that led to election-related deaths. The Nigerian Army had also set up a committee to investigate allegations of misconduct but, as Dependable NG further confirms, the committee was predictably accused of a cover-up after it absolved its personnel of any wrongdoing. Wike’s latest revelation, therefore, adds a new and dangerous dimension to these past events, suggesting that the reported military excesses may have been orchestrated from a political high command. The accusation is also a continuation of a long and bitter political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, two former allies who have been at loggerheads since their dramatic falling-out before the 2015 elections. Their feud has been a hallmark of Rivers State politics, characterized by incessant accusations of corruption, political thuggery, and a battle for the soul of the state.

Wike also used the opportunity to dismiss claims of persecution from other opposition governors, arguing that they have not faced the kind of life-threatening situations he endured. The fact that the general he accused is now in a different role further adds a layer of complexity to the allegation, underscoring the political implications of Wike’s public statement. The explosive claims, if proven true, could have far-reaching consequences for both Amaechi and the military hierarchy. It would also lend credence to the long-held belief that security agencies in Nigeria are often used as tools for political vendetta and intimidation. As Wike’s allegations are now in the public domain, they are likely to trigger demands for an independent investigation into the events of the 2019 elections in Rivers State, a probe that could finally bring to light the full scope of the political and military intrigues that defined that dark period in the state’s history.