| FCT Minister faults ADC ticket, alleges waste of public funds on Rivers projects under predecessor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, describing him as a social media favourite whose popularity does not translate into the capacity to govern Nigeria.

Wike, who spoke on Saturday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, mocked Obi for carrying his own bags, arguing that the former governor’s frugality was misplaced and questioning his leadership credentials.

The minister said Obi might win a contest for popularity on social media but lacked the qualities he considered necessary to lead the country.

“Truly speaking, I gave him 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 capital no!” Wike said.

He also criticised Obi’s habit of carrying his own luggage, describing it as an attempt to project an image of frugality.

“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,” he said.

Wike also questioned Obi’s record during his tenure as Anambra governor, arguing that the performance of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo, should be considered when assessing his predecessor’s administration.

He further challenged politicians who leave their parties during internal crises, insisting that leadership requires the ability to confront difficulties rather than abandon them.

Recalling the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said he had remained in the party and fought his political battles instead of leaving.

“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 FCT minister also revisited projects executed under the previous Rivers State administration, alleging that billions of naira and millions of dollars were spent on initiatives that failed to deliver the promised benefits.

He cited the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, claiming that $39 million, which he put at about N53 billion, had been spent 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 equally criticised the Rivers State monorail project, alleging that about N60 billion was spent on it while questioning its functionality and the benefits it had provided to residents.

On the sale of a gas turbine, he alleged that the transaction was valued at $308 million and claimed that only $308,000 remained in the relevant state account when he assumed office in May 2015.

He also recalled a proposal to spend $10 million on fumigating Rivers State to tackle mosquitoes, questioning the rationale behind the plan given the state’s geographical boundaries with neighbouring states.

Wike urged voters to examine the records of political officeholders and candidates rather than rely solely on campaign promises and public appearances.

The minister also expressed reservations about the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket and questioned the reliability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he had known since their days in the PDP.

He declared his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, maintaining that the ruling party was the platform he intended to back.

Explaining the rationale behind the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, Wike said the initiative brought politicians from different parties together to reduce political divisions and violence, even as members prepared to contest elections on different platforms.

“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.

Wike announced that the coalition would unveil its candidates on October 27, naming Kingsley Chinda as its preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

He also disclosed the names of candidates for other elective positions, indicating that some coalition members would contest under the APC despite the group’s cross-party composition.

The minister urged Rivers residents to support candidates he described as experienced and committed to public service, adding that the concerns raised by Bonny stakeholders would receive attention.

He also praised the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road, describing it as a major infrastructure achievement that had improved access to the island community and reduced residents’ dependence on boat travel.

Wike said he had personally drawn Tinubu’s attention to the significance of the road, stressing that its completion represented an important step towards improving connectivity and supporting development in Bonny.