The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that President Bola Tinubu will have an easier time winning the 2027 presidential election than he did in 2023.
Wike made the statement during an inspection visit of flood-affected districts in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.
Wike mentioned that the fragmented nature of the opposition would make it difficult for the parties to mount a strong challenge against Tinubu in 2027.
He declared, “This election, the 2027 election, will be the easiest election for Mr President. 2023 was a tough election for him.”
The former Rivers State governor also said that the opposition was weakened by defections and political movements ahead of the next election.
He responded, “Do you know what this election implies, with the opposition crippled? They were exhausted; they terminated them.”
Wike stated that a viable opposition must spend years creating a robust political organization rather than jumping from one party to another in quest of an electoral platform.
He said, “For you to be opposition to remove a government, it must be what you call a strong, vibrant opposition that has stayed for over four years planning, not opposition that is looking for a party to run to.”
He added, “Today, they’re going to Party A. So, you see, that kind of opposition can never win.”
Wike expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances in 2027, stating, “If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no, forget it. It’s over.”
The minister dismissed criticism from opposition politicians and commentators, citing the Tinubu administration’s achievements over the past three years.
Wike said, “I don’t want to reply to political commentaries. I don’t want to reply to people who think that appearing before media houses will give them an edge to win an election that they have lost. No.”
He stressed that the administration’s achievements could not be diminished by political criticism.
He said, “Nobody can diminish what this administration has done in the past three years. Nobody can diminish it. This administration has done very well as far as the Federal Capital Territory is concerned.”
According to him, while the administration had not fixed all of the country’s difficulties, it had made strides in tackling major issues.
He added, “That does not mean I claim that we have solved all problems, no. Are we solving problems? Yes. Have we solved major problems? Yes. Will we continue to solve problems? Yes.”
The minister also discussed the government’s response to floods and unlawful structures in the FCT.
He urged FCT Development Control Department personnel against using bureaucratic justifications to prolong enforcement operations, claiming that the administration has the political will to take action against structures impeding waterways.
Wike said, “And let nobody make a mistake that this government lacks the political will to do anything. The person must be making a very big mistake. If there is one minister that has that political will, it is I. I have the political will.”
He ordered that houses found on waterways should be demolished, regardless of the status of their owners.
He said, “I’m going to bring those houses down! Any house that’s found on the water channel will go down!”
Wike mentioned that the enforcement would not be suspended because of the approaching election.
He added, “Whether there is an election or not, oh, there’s no election, oh, all those houses will go down. Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done.”
The minister also denounced the turning of designated green spaces in Abuja into business parks and other projects.
He stated that some people had attempted to rationalize such developments by citing historical claims concerning land distributions.
Wike said, “Because something that was done wrongly will not be corrected? No, we will not allow that. We won’t.”
He reassured locals that desilting and other infrastructure improvements would continue in flood-prone regions like Lokogoma and the Yakubu Gowon Crescent axis in Asokoro.
He also advised locals to help combat flooding by properly disposing of waste and avoiding activities that could clog drainage lines.
