By Jimmy Fatunbi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he could become the first target of opposition politicians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, if President Bola Tinubu loses his bid for re-election in 2027.
Wike spoke on Wednesday during a media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while defending his continued support for Tinubu’s second-term bid despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The minister has been locked in a political battle with Atiku since 2022, when he lost the PDP presidential ticket to the former vice president.
Obi, who is also seeking the presidency in 2027, had previously sought Wike’s support during the 2023 election, when he contested on the platform of the Labour Party. Wike, however, openly supported Tinubu in that election.
Explaining why he was determined to back the President in 2027, Wike said his open opposition to key figures in the emerging opposition camp had left him politically exposed should Tinubu lose.
“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.
He said his political differences with Atiku and Obi meant that a Tinubu defeat could expose him to political retaliation from a new administration.
Wike also rejected suggestions that he was preparing to relocate permanently to Rivers State, saying his frequent visits were aimed at maintaining close contact with his political base ahead of the 2027 elections.
“You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” he asked.
According to the minister, his presence in Rivers State was not an indication that he was abandoning his responsibilities in Abuja.
“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.
Wike said he would not depend solely on assurances from political associates that everything was under control in the state.
“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?’” he said.
Wike lists FCT projects
The FCT minister also assured that all capital projects initiated under the Tinubu administration in Abuja would be completed before the end of the President’s tenure.
He highlighted the infrastructure projects undertaken by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Before this tenure expires, every project started under Bola Tinubu would have been completed,” Wike said.
According to him, the Tinubu administration initiated 107 capital projects in the FCT, of which 76 had already been completed.
He said another 10 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,” he said.
Wike also disclosed that the FCTA had made substantial progress on projects inherited from previous administrations.
He said 23 of the 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had been completed, with work continuing on the remaining two.
The minister added that the FCTA inherited eight projects from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Yar’Adua, completing six while work remained ongoing on two.
“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 FCTA’s commitment to completing all projects initiated under Tinubu before the end of the President’s tenure.
He also challenged critics to compare the pace of infrastructure development under the Tinubu administration with that 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.
