Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticized former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for his recent comments on the status of public schools in Abuja, saying, “Birthday celebrations in IDP camps won’t make you president.”
Speaking on Thursday at the opening of freshly constructed roads in the city, Wike accused Obi of politicizing social concerns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Mr. Peter Obi, we just came into office two years ago. We haven’t even spent four years. But you—you were governor for eight years. If I were you, I’d keep quiet. Enough is enough,” the minister said.
Earlier this week, Obi had visited LEA Primary School in Kapwa, Abuja, where he lamented the deplorable state of public schools, calling it “a national disgrace” and reflecting the government’s disregard of the education sector.
However, Wike characterized Obi’s critique as hypocritical and politically driven.
“You can’t become president of Nigeria just by going to IDP camps for birthday celebrations. Who is interested in that? Doing your birthday in an IDP camp doesn’t mean you love Nigeria or that you’re committed to change,” he said.
The FCT minister questioned Obi’s genuineness, recalling that the former governor had never held such humanitarian activities while in office.
“When you were governor in Anambra, why didn’t you celebrate birthdays in IDP camps? Now that you want to be president, every birthday is with the less privileged. Who are you trying to deceive?” Wike asked.
The FCT minister questioned Obi’s genuineness, recalling that the former governor had never held such humanitarian activities while in office.
“We are not sleeping. By next week, we’ll show Nigerians what we’ve done in the area of education,” he stated.
Wike also criticized Obi’s leadership qualities, claiming that the Labour Party candidate had failed to govern his own political program.
“You can’t run a party properly, and you want to run a country. You will continue to contest on social media, but not as president of Nigeria,” he said.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
