The Rivers State Women Association of Nigeria (RIVSWAN) has vehemently condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for what it described as an “unwarranted and malicious attack” on Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of the former Rivers State Governor and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The group, speaking through its Acting President, Ichechi Welendu, on Saturday, July 5, 2025, was reacting to recent claims made by Minister Wike during a national television programme on Friday. Wike had alleged that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was paying Dame Amaechi ₦4 billion monthly to train Niger Delta women, amounting to ₦48 billion annually. He also questioned Amaechi’s recent description of his wife as an “industrialist,” insisting she was a “trader” and accusing Amaechi of being unfair to his wife by involving her in public political discussions.

RIVSWAN lambasted Wike’s claims as “baseless falsehoods driven by bitterness, ignorance, and a worrying lack of self-restraint.” In a strongly worded statement, the association asserted that the allegations were “laughable” and an “embarrassment to public discourse,” reflecting either “a gross misunderstanding of the NDDC’s budgetary structure or a deliberate effort to smear the name of a respected woman of substance.”

“Dame Judith Amaechi is a moral compass, a gospel preacher, and a champion of good governance,” Welendu declared. She highlighted Dame Amaechi’s philanthropic work through the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI), a non-governmental organization that has actively supported girl-child education and women’s empowerment across the Niger Delta region. The group maintained that the former first lady financed most of her women-oriented programmes with personal resources and should not be subjected to public ridicule based on unfounded accusations.

RIVSWAN described Wike’s remarks on live television as a “slap on the face of Rivers women” and a “disgraceful abuse of national platforms.” The group challenged the FCT Minister to publicly present verifiable documents to back his claims or immediately withdraw his “unsavoury and irresponsible allegation.” They warned that failure to provide proof could lead to “legitimate actions, including peaceful protests across Rivers State.”

Furthermore, the women’s association urged President Bola Tinubu to caution the FCT Minister, stressing that his “unguarded utterances are unbecoming of a federal cabinet member.” RIVSWAN called on the general public to disregard what it termed a “concocted story fueled by personal vendetta and misinformation,” reaffirming their unwavering support for Dame Judith Amaechi as “a pillar of progress and a matriarch of the Rivers women’s movement.”

The renewed verbal attacks underscore the deep-seated political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, which continues to shape the political narrative in Rivers State.