The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says that he would be the first target of opposition politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, should President Bola Tinubu fail to secure re-election in 2027.
Wike made the remark during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, where he defended his unrelenting campaign for Tinubu’s second term despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike has been engaged in a political battle with Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, since 2022, when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party presidential ticket to the former vice president.
Obi, who emerged as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress for 2027, also sought Wike’s support for his 2023 presidential bid on the Labour Party platform, although the minister openly backed Tinubu in the election.
Speaking on the political risk of openly backing the President, Wike said his loyalty to Tinubu had left him personally exposed should the President’s re-election bid fail.
“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 argued that his aggressive posture against opposition figures such as Atiku and Obi meant that a Tinubu defeat in 2027 would not only be a loss for his Rainbow Coalition but would also leave him personally vulnerable to political reprisal from a new administration.
Wike further declared that he would not remain passive and allow Atiku to win the 2027 presidential election, as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the January general elections.
He also dismissed reports that he was planning to relocate to Rivers State, saying his frequent visits to the state were part of efforts to remain politically engaged with his people.
“You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” Wike asked.
The minister 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 do those things you know how to do very well, not to take 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 solely on assurances from political associates that all was well in Rivers State, particularly as the 2027 general election approaches.
“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, however, assured that all capital projects initiated under the administration in the nation’s capital will be completed before the expiration of the tenure.
He highlighted the infrastructure projects executed by the FCT Administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Before this tenure expires, every project started under Bola Tinubu would have been completed,” he said.
The minister said 107 capital projects were initiated under the Tinubu administration in the FCT, with 76 already completed.
He added that 10 more projects would be inaugurated before the January elections, while the remaining projects would be completed before the end of the administration’s tenure.
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 disclosed that the FCT Administration had made significant progress on projects inherited from previous administrations.
According to him, 23 of the 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had been completed, with work ongoing on the remaining two.
He said the administration also inherited eight projects from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Yar’Adua, completing six while two remained 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 commitment of the FCTA to completing all projects initiated under Tinubu before the end of the President’s tenure.
The minister also challenged critics to compare the infrastructure development recorded under the Tinubu administration with those 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.
Punch
