‘Why We Should Continue To Support Tinubu’, Wike To Nigerians

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has explained the many reasons Nigerians should re-elect President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

The FCT Minister spoke on Wednesday during his monthly ministerial press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

Wike said he enjoyed his job as FCT Minister and remained committed to it. “I enjoy my job as FCT Minister, and I’m committed to it. Yes, I have pressure to deliver, but positively,” he said.

Wike also said Ogoni people had benefited from empowerment under the President.

“Ogoni people have been looking for empowerment, and now President Tinubu has done a lot of empowerment for them. If you tell them not to vote for Mr President, they’ll look at you like you’re not okay,” he said.

He insisted that “no government has done more in the fight against insecurity than this government.”

The former Rivers State governor responded to critics and political rivals, including the Turaki-led PDP faction, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch.

Addressing Amaechi’s candidacy on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Wike questioned the former governor’s record in Rivers State.

“Why will Rivers people support a former governor who can’t explain the issue of 14billion earmarked for fumigating the state? Up till now I still have mosquito bites,” he said.

He added: “You budgeted $39m to construct a general hospital and up till now we can’t find any hospital. How can I support such a person? He sold out gas turbine, so what’s the impact of his leadership on Rivers people?”

Wike further alleged that Amaechi contracted a Ghanaian to plant trees along Aba Road for N8bn. “My brother, it was terrible! I don’t want to waste my energy. His candidacy is dead on arrival,” he said.

On Amaechi’s electoral pull, Wike said: “Amaechi was a former super minister; he didn’t get 15% in Rivers State. In 2019, he was DG; he didn’t give his boss 15%. What is relevant? What is important?”

Reacting to Amaechi’s reported remark about divorcing his wife if she supported Tinubu, Wike asked: “Why does he have to bring his wife into politics? Last time he brought in his mother. A man who does not respect his mother, now he has brought in his wife. A man who wants to be a vice president of Nigeria. I watched it on video, and I was so sad, an innocent woman.”

On the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Wike said political conditions had changed since 2023.

“In 2023 you saw the wave for LP. It was difficult for anybody to campaign in the Southeast, but today people are campaigning there. Does it not tell you something? It’s no longer the way it used to be,” he said, adding that it would be difficult for Abuja residents to campaign for Obi because satellite towns were feeling the difference in their lives.”

He acknowledged Kwankwaso’s popularity in the North, but noted that “in the last election he won Kano, but aside from that he didn’t win any other state there.”

Wike also said: “Nigerians know Amaechi looted the state dry, Nigerians know Atiku has been accused of corruption, Nigerians know that Obi has nothing to offer; he has been unmasked. You saw when Soludo exposed his dealings.” These remarks are Wike’s own claims and were not accompanied by evidence at the media chat.

Of Atiku Abubakar, he asked: “Atiku has governed the state for eight years; what did he do?”

On whether former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai could inherit President Muhammadu Buhari’s 12 million northern votes, Wike pointed out that El-Rufai could not deliver Kaduna for the President.

Wike noted that the coalition’s arrangements were settled well ahead of the polls.

“We started this journey more than 2 years ago. Politics and elections are not a one-day thing. Before the primaries, we’ve met and taken decisions so everyone knows what they must do,” he said.

He said supporters of candidates across the two parties had been sensitised on what to do, adding that leadership “is about cascading impact down to your people.” He disclosed that he conceded 13 seats to the APC and three to the PDP, and said he knew the three.

On the coalition’s distribution of offices, he said it was not only about elective positions, as there were also appointive offices, and everyone knows their strengths.

Regarding Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike said: “Gov Fubara unveiled the Rainbow Coalition candidates, so he was involved. Did he complain to anybody that he’s not involved?” He declined to say whether he would nominate Fubara as a minister.

On the court case seeking to stop APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda’s candidacy, Wike said: “So many people can go to court for us to settle with them. Chinda is not afraid; he’s a lawyer.”

Wike addressed his feud with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma over the court judgement involving former governor Rochas Okorocha, denying any role.

“I didn’t go to court; I’m not from APC. People are saying that because a day before that judgement he had openly warned his people there’s no Rainbow Coalition; if I see you I’ll collect the vehicle. So when the judgement came, they said it was me. How could it have been me?” he said. “What is Hope Uzodinma afraid of in the Rainbow Coalition?”

He added: “Your business is to make sure Mr President wins elections. At the national assembly level, so many factors come in, including zoning. I owe no apologies that Rochas is my friend. After all, he has friends in Rivers State that are my political enemies. Will I go and kill them? No!” He further said: “If he’s a strong man, he shouldn’t be afraid. You’re strong, whatever you see you take!”

Commenting on the Turaki-led PDP faction’s legal challenge, Wike said: “Let them go to the Supreme Court. I believe it’ll be a waste of time.”

Of Oyinlola, he said: “I stopped Oyinlola from being PDP deputy national chairman; that’s why he’s pained. He was, what is he now? We are on the ground now; what is he?”

Responding to ASUU’s concerns about alleged land grabbing at the University of Abuja, Wike said: “What’s the business of ASUU with land in the University of Abuja? How do they prove that they own the land? I’m not intimidated by this blackmail. Fine, we’ll meet in court. They said they’ll go on strike, fine, let them go on strike. The university was given over 4,000 hectares; what will they do with that?”

On opposition complaints about high billboard fees in Abuja, he said: “A candidate can use five agents to pay for all the billboards. Will I know? All I’m interested in is that the billboards have been paid for, and I need the money to do more roads in the FCT.” He added: “I don’t know what they mean by astronomical. Politics is expensive. If they can’t pay for billboards, they should go to social media and advertise.”