Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has stated that if President Bola Tinubu is not re-elected in 2027, he will be the first target of opposition leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
Wike made the comment during a media interview in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, when he maintained his unwavering support for Tinubu’s second term while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike has been in a political struggle with Atiku, the African Democratic Congress’ presidential nominee, since 2022, when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party presidential nomination to the former vice president.
Obi, who emerged as the Nigeria Democratic Congress’ presidential candidate for 2027, also sought Wike’s support for his 2023 presidential candidacy on the Labor Party platform, despite the fact that the minister openly supported Tinubu during the election.
Speaking about the political risk of openly supporting the president, Wike stated that his allegiance to Tinubu had left him personally vulnerable if the president’s re-election bid failed.
“My concern is, I will support Mr. President. If you watch what is happening today and look at it, peradventure anything happens and Mr. President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku or Obi will hunt for his head.
“I challenge anybody. So, I won’t make that mistake of sleeping to see that the president loses the election,” Wike said.
The minister contended that Tinubu’s confrontational stance toward opposition leaders such as Atiku and Obi meant that a Tinubu defeat in 2027 would not only be a setback for his Rainbow Coalition but would also expose him personally to political reprisal from a new administration.
Wike also stated that he would not remain idle and enable Atiku to win the 2027 presidential election, as political activities pick up steam ahead of the January general elections.
He also denied plans to relocate to Rivers State, claiming that his frequent travels were part of his efforts to remain politically active with his constituents.
“You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” Wike asked.
The former Rivers State governor argued that he had no intention of abandoning his responsibilities in Abuja but would continue to maintain close contact with political developments in Rivers State.
“It’s not about relocating; it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also doing those things you know how to do very well, not taking chances.
“So, I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on well there,” he added.
According to him, he would not rely exclusively on assurances from political associates that everything was fine in Rivers State, especially as the 2027 general election approached.
“I don’t want to sit in Abuja, and candidates are saying, ‘Oh, don’t bother; everything is going on well.’ I have to come home and see that all those things are going on. ‘Have you done this? What about this?’” Wike said.
Wike, on the other hand, pledged that all capital projects undertaken during his administration in the nation’s capital would be completed before his tenure expired.
He highlighted the infrastructure initiatives carried out by the FCT Administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Before this tenure expires, every project started under Bola Tinubu would have been completed,” he stated.
The minister stated that the Tinubu administration began 107 capital projects in the FCT, 76 of which have already been completed.
He stated that ten more projects would be launched before the January elections, and the other projects would be completed before the conclusion of the administration’s term.
“The President’s administration under Bola Tinubu commissioned 107 capital projects. We have completed 76. Before the January election, we will commission 10, and before the end of his tenure, we would have commissioned all the projects,” Wike said.
The minister also stated that the FCT Administration had made great progress on projects passed down from previous administrations.
According to him, 23 of the 25 projects inherited from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government have been finished, with work on the remaining two still proceeding.
He also stated that the administration inherited eight projects from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Yar’Adua, with six completed and two ongoing.
“We inherited 25 projects from President Buhari and completed 23, while two are currently ongoing.
“We inherited eight projects from the administrations of President Jonathan and President Yar’Adua. We have completed six, while two are ongoing,” he said.
Wike reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to finish all projects launched by Tinubu before the conclusion of the president’s term.
The minister also challenged detractors to compare infrastructural development during the Tinubu administration to that of previous governments.
“In the history of the FCT, no government has done what we have done in Abuja. I challenge anyone to come out,” Wike stated.
