Wike: Tinubu’s 2027 victory in Rivers assured

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said it will be difficult for Rivers State residents not to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Wike insisted that the political groundwork for the President’s re-election began two years ago.

Speaking during his monthly media chat on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the minister said his political camp had taken its mobilisation to the grassroots, adding that the Rainbow Coalition was not confusing, as some critics had suggested. FollowPolitics

“Leadership is key. We have gone to the grassroots and started this journey two years ago to vote for Tinubu,” he said.

According to him, he regularly visits local government areas to explain the coalition’s political agenda and mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition. FollowPolitics

“The Rainbow Coalition is never confusing. I always move round the local governments to tell them what we are doing,” he added.

The minister also took a swipe at former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over comments involving his wife, accusing him of failing to fulfil a contract awarded to her for the training of women in Rivers State.

Wike questioned why Amaechi was making an issue of his wife’s involvement in political matters when, according to him, a contract awarded to her for women’s training during his administration was not executed. FollowPolitics

He further challenged Amaechi to account for his eight years in government, arguing that the country would not be facing its present challenges if those who previously held power had performed well.

On the political disagreement between him and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma over the Rainbow Coalition and former governor Rochas Okorocha, Wike described Okorocha as his friend, insisting that nobody could dictate who he associated with.

“Rochas Okorocha is my friend. Why is the Imo State governor crying about the Rainbow Coalition? You cannot choose my friend for me,” he said.

He challenged Uzodimma to strengthen his political base and win over his supporters instead of complaining about his relationship with Okorocha.

“If Uzodimma is strong, he should control and woo his people,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also dismissed the political relevance of former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying Oyinlola had helped prevent him from becoming the party’s deputy national chairman.

Wike maintained that although Oyinlola was his senior in political circles, he was no longer a PDP member.

He also expressed doubt about the PDP’s chances of winning the 2027 presidential election, recalling that he had openly supported Tinubu in 2023 and remained committed to that position.

On the political future of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara after the 2023 political crisis and the end of his tenure, Wike said leaving office would not end his political career.

He described Fubara as a young politician whose future should not be written off.

“Leaving office does not mean that life has ended. Fubara is a young man, and you cannot say that his political life is gone,” he said.

Wike also expressed displeasure at the continued controversy surrounding the University of Abuja land dispute and the threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embark on a strike.

He questioned the union’s role in the dispute.

According to him, ASUU had already approached the court but was still threatening to embark on a strike.

“They have gone to court and now threaten that they will go on strike,” he said.