By Sarah NEGEDU
As the politicking for the 2027 general elections gains momentum, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has made it clear that he will be joining the APC campaign trails in Rivers State.
Wike, who was speaking during a televised media chat on Monday, dismissed suggestions that he was working against his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stating that his position had long been consistent.
The minister who insisted that his involvement with the APC led government does not amount to anti-party, maintained that his support for President Bola Tinubu in 2023 was rooted in his belief in southern presidency.
In his words, “Are you not aware that I will lead the campaign in Rivers State? You are not aware that he did not get up to 10% there but he will win here?”
Asked if he would lead the campaign for the APC, Wike replied, “Of course, is that hidden? Because I have said the south must produce the president.
“I said I will support Asiwaju. The way we won other elections, that’s the way we will win. I’m not a liability. I’m an asset. Whether you agree, you don’t agree, I’m an asset. Whether you want to die, you don’t want to die, I’m an asset.”
Responding to questions about infighting within the PDP and the possibility of the party imploding before 2027, the minister affirmed that the party will survive, as some stakeholders are willing to work for the survival of the party.
“Let me tell you, because some people want to kill it. We say it will not die. We’ll make sure they will not die. That’s why we don’t allow them to get what want.”
When asked about the movement of some PDP strong hold to the ruling APC, Wike fired back, “That is to tell you, okay Look at it. It’s a party leadership problem. Look at it. You won’t tell me that they didn’t have intelligence that Delta will go.
“You won’t tell me that they have intelligence that Akwa Ibom will go. Now leadership what would you do? send a team. To ask but Why are you doing this? No, you’re making a mistake. This, this, this! impunity instead you say Let them go. Look opposition does not do impunity. No, no, no. We try to say, beg, beg. Put everybody together. You don’t say, let them go. Let me tell you, they are playing to the gallery. I cannot do that. the more you look, the less you see.”
Wike also responded angrily to comments by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, who recently claimed to be experiencing hunger. The minister questioned Amaechi’s credibility, describing his remarks as outright lies and insulting to Nigerians.
“I don’t know how a man will choose his 60th birthday to tell lies. It’s unfortunate,” Wike said.
Wike accused Amaechi of trivialising the hardship facing Nigerians. “How do you travalise the issue of hunger or poverty. Why do you do that? You’re insulting Nigerians. You join Atiku, you join El-Rufai because you are hungry. Have you not insulted Nigerians? Is just that you can’t stay out of power. That’s the hunger.
“You can’t stay out of power. How would a man who served 1999 to 2023 Will stand before Nigerians, who presided over billions of naira.
“This was the same man who, on a national television, told Nigeria he doesn’t like money meanwhile dollar was showing him, you are carrying dollar, and you are telling Nigerians you don’t like eh, money. What kind of country is this? And we are listening to that, and you said, he is influential? What is influence?”
Speaking on Amaechi’s recent declaration about forming a coalition to remove President Tinubu, Wike condemned the language used. “Let this coalition form a team. Let them start from home to start removing the president oh! When you say you will remove, they should start from their home to remove him by making sure President loses the election,” he said.
“How could somebody come out on national television and tell Nigerians. If we want to remove the President now we can?’ Is it a military coup?”
Wike argued that such rhetoric was dangerous. “That word ‘removal’ means move to dictatorship in the military. You only use that word ‘remove’ when there’s a coup. I would have thought he would say ‘we will vote him out.”
While he offered no clear path to reconciliation with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike said the current standoff was not his doing. “I have no issues with Fubara,” he said.
