•Urges Rivers residents to back president’s 2027 re-election bid

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Bonny

Ministerof the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi as “stingy” for carrying his own bags, while questioning his leadership record and suitability for the presidency.

Wike, who criticised Obi’s political style and the opposition’s leadership, described the former governor as a “president of social media”, arguing that online popularity was not enough to qualify anyone to govern Nigeria.

The minister spoke yesterday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders of the Rainbow Coalition in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he also defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and urged residents to support his re-election in 2027.

“Truly speaking, I think he is president of social media. If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it is capital no!” Wike said.

Taking a swipe at Obi’s reputation for frugality, the former Rivers State governor said: “As a former governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a personal assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president.”

Wike also questioned Obi’s performance during his tenure as Anambra governor, suggesting that the performance of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, should inform public assessment of his predecessor.

He challenged politicians seeking the presidency to demonstrate their capacity to manage crises, citing his own decision to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and fight internal battles rather than abandon the party.

“How will you solve the problem of the country? Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he said.

The minister also questioned the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and expressed doubts about former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he had known from their time in the PDP.

Wike’s remarks came as he canvassed support for Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his preference for the president ahead of the 2027 election.

Beyond his attacks on opposition politicians, Wike made allegations against the previous Rivers State administration over the handling of public funds and the execution of major projects.

He alleged that $39 million was spent on a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital without the project progressing to the foundation stage.

“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there’s no foundation, no one block laid,” he said.

Wike also questioned the value delivered by the state’s monorail project, alleging that about N60 billion was spent on it.

On the sale of a power plant, the minister cited a transaction valued at $308 million, claiming that only $308,000 remained in the relevant state account when he assumed office in May 2015.

He further recalled a proposal to spend $10 million on fumigating Rivers State to address mosquito bites, questioning the rationale for such expenditure in a state sharing boundaries with several others.

The allegations were made by Wike at the meeting. Independent verification of the figures and the circumstances surrounding the projects was not provided in the account of his remarks, and responses from the officials or other parties concerned were not available.

Wike also defended Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary step that previous administrations had failed to take.

He acknowledged that the policy had contributed to hardship through rising petrol prices and the cost of living but argued that it had increased the revenue available to state and local governments.

“Each time a president comes, fuel subsidies are a scam. What have you done with it? Another president will come, fuel subsidy is a scam. What have you done? Nobody has been able to take a courageous decision,” he said.

According to Wike, Tinubu proceeded with the policy despite knowing that it would impose short-term hardship on Nigerians.

The minister identified the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road as a major achievement of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the project had ended years of dependence on boats and helicopters to access the island community.

He said the road had remained a political promise under successive administrations until its completion under the current federal government.

Earlier, Wike visited the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, at his palace, where he explained that his engagement was intended to discuss national developments and encourage informed political choices ahead of the 2027 general election.

Wike also explained the Rainbow Coalition’s political arrangement in Rivers State, saying it had brought together politicians from different parties to reduce divisions and political violence.

“Under a Rainbow Coalition, that’s why in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he said.

He announced plans to unveil the coalition’s candidates on Tuesday, October 27, and named Kingsley Chinda as its preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship race.

The chairman of the Rainbow Coalition, George Tubara Tolofari, commended Wike for facilitating reconciliation among members following divisions within the group.

He said meetings in Port Harcourt and Bonny had brought together members of formerly opposing political camps, including those associated with the defunct Simplified Movement.

The chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Abinye Blessing Pepple, also highlighted government initiatives relating to infrastructure, empowerment and economic opportunities.