Wike’s Aide Blasts Activist Lawyer Dele Farotimi Amid War of Words Over Rivers Politics
The deepening rift among key political actors in Rivers State has once again spilled into the public arena, as Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, issued a scathing rebuke of Lagos-based activist lawyer Dele Farotimi.
Olayinka’s sharp comments came in response to Farotimi’s recent critique of Wike on social media, where the lawyer described the former Rivers State governor in harsh terms, labeling him “cacophonous, parasitic, narcissistic, gluttonous, and myopic”, among other characterizations. Farotimi’s post, which went viral on X (formerly Twitter), was a reaction to Wike’s ongoing feud with his predecessor and political rival, Rotimi Amaechi.
In defense of Wike, Olayinka dismissed Farotimi’s comments as lacking substance and accused the lawyer of abandoning objectivity for what he called “sentimental activism.” He also sarcastically referred to Farotimi as a “human rice and beans activist”, a term seemingly meant to diminish the lawyer’s reputation as a public intellectual and rights advocate.
“When, as a lawyer and human rice and beans activist like Dele Farotimi, you have lost your sense of rational reasoning,” Olayinka posted on X, “you will end up promoting a man who built no school in eight years as governor while attacking another who built the law school that many of this week’s new lawyers attended.”
The aide’s defense of Wike centered on the former governor’s legacy of infrastructure projects, particularly the law school campus built in Rivers State, which has been cited as a milestone achievement during Wike’s tenure.
Rivers’ Political Tensions Escalate
This latest exchange underscores the growing volatility in Rivers State’s political space, where the rivalry between Wike and Amaechi—both former governors and former allies—has continued to escalate. Their feud, once a quiet tug-of-war within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has now become a national spectacle marked by sharp public rhetoric, media wars, and polarizing loyalties.
Critics argue that Wike, now a key figure in President Tinubu’s administration despite being a PDP member, has increasingly used his federal platform to settle old political scores and dominate the political narrative in Rivers and beyond. Meanwhile, his detractors, including civil society actors like Farotimi, accuse him of authoritarian tendencies and self-aggrandizement.
Free Speech or Personal Attacks?
The exchange has also reignited broader conversations about freedom of expression versus the abuse of public office to suppress dissent. Farotimi, known for his sharp-tongued critiques of Nigerian elites, has long maintained that public officials must endure scrutiny and dissent in a democracy.
However, observers say Olayinka’s personal attacks on Farotimi reflect a disturbing trend of state actors responding to criticism with insults rather than substance.
“This kind of name-calling from a public official only deepens the perception that political criticism in Nigeria is often met with pettiness rather than policy defense,” said a media ethics lecturer at the University of Abuja.
While both Wike and Amaechi have their share of loyalists and critics, the public backlash appears to be widening as more Nigerians grow weary of elite infighting that offers little in terms of solutions to the country’s pressing issues.
As Rivers State becomes a theater for national political drama, many are left wondering whether personal ego and legacy battles have taken precedence over governance and public service.
Reference
Wike’s Aide Blasts Activist Lawyer Dele Farotimi Amid War of Words Over Rivers Politics