The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given a clear reason for his push for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. He thinks that if Tinubu loses, he could become a target for the opposition.
Wike shared his thoughts on Wednesday during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi would “come for my head” if Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
A part of the interview is shared on X.
“If anything happens, and Mr President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku, Obi will hunt for his head. I will be the first politician. I challenge anybody. So, I won’t make that mistake, to be sleeping to see the president lose the election. No.”
This statement shows how personally involved Wike is in Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Wike’s comments raise a big question: why does he think Atiku and Obi would “come for his head” if Tinubu loses?
The phrase implies that Wike sees his political choices as having serious consequences beyond just losing an election. It also makes it seem like his support for Tinubu could be seen as a wrong move, for which he might face punishment if the opposition wins.
This feeling may come from his tough political past with Atiku. Wike opposed Atiku during the 2022 PDP presidential primary. He also led the G5 governors who did not support the party’s presidential candidate in 2023. Since then, he has openly sided with Tinubu.
His words have added to the feeling of a personal political battle. “You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” he asked.
Wike insists that he is being deliberate and feels no regret. “Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the President’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the President’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the President’s re-election,” he stated.
The larger political picture is no longer just about whether Tinubu wins or loses. For Wike, his own political future seems more connected to the election outcome.
This raises another question: Is Wike supporting Tinubu because he thinks it is best for Nigeria, because it is safer for him, or because he fears personal consequences if the opposition wins?
Wike is still a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even while serving in a federal government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has become one of Tinubu’s strongest political supporters. Previously, this newspaper reported that he promised to deliver both Rivers State and the FCT for the President in 2027.
His political stance has become even clearer in Rivers State. He is now supporting an APC candidate for governor, even though he is part of the PDP.
On Tuesday, Wike introduced Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate, as “the next governor of Rivers State.” This effectively shows his choice in a race where the PDP also has interests, according to Daily Post.
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