By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has again clarified why President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election.
While cautioning the Peoples Democratic Party not to make the same mistakes they made in the last 2023 presidential elections, he observed that in any case, nobody in the PDP at the moment can match Tinubu as an incumbent.
On the embattled suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, Wike said he is not in a battle with him, but with a struggle against those who deceived and derailed the governor.
Wike spoke recently with BBC Pidgin English, which ThisNigeria monitored in Abuja.
Wike said Tinubu would win overwhelmingly and with a landslide if the PDP continued with its mistakes of 2023.
“Tinubu will win the landslide if the PDP makes the same mistake they made in 2023. Remember that in 2023, even his (Tinubu’s) own party fought against him, now he is the incumbent. PDP must do the right thing,” he said.
He challenged the PDP that, as it stands, even if they do the right thing now, they don’t have anybody to match and defeat Tinubu.
The Minister said, “Even if they do the right thing now, who do they have that can match this man now. Nigeria is moving forward, and we don’t need people who will take us backwards. Look at what’s happening in Abuja; the kind of leadership he, Tinubu, has provided has made it possible.
“When people say I am doing well, can I do well without his support? He has brought back hope that people had lost. That is the essence of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Wike said even if his party, the PDP, decides to zone the presidency to the South, he would not contest against President Tinubu. He would not run against a man he is working with and who has given him tremendous support, which is delivering to the satisfaction of all.
*Says feud not with Fubara but those who are instigating governor
Wike said he was not in a battle with Fubara during the squabbles between him and his political godson, Sim Fubara. Instead, he was battling those who wanted to hijack the government and reap where they did not sow.
In his words, “No! I’m not in a battle. Fubara is my boy; he’s my political son, and I am not in a battle with him. I am fighting those who wanted to hijack and reap where they have not sown. Those people are the ones causing the concussion. They are the ones who pushed him into this problem; he has seen it, and it is good for him. They lied to him and collected money.”
He reiterated, “I am not fighting the young man. We meant well for him. Our elders called him and cautioned him. People suffered for him to become governor; some people petitioned the EFCC. We stood our ground for him. He was barely 100 days in office and started abandoning those who stood for him.
“I called him, Governor Seyi Makinde called him, former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom called him, former governor of Enugu State, and others cautioned him. Those people deceived him into thinking that we wanted to control him, that we wanted him to give us money.”
Wike again clarified that he could never have needed money from Fubara.
“How much money does he have? I am FCT am minister. I was governor for eight years, and now I am the FCT Minister. What money do I need?”
“We only told him, remember where you are coming from, don’t abandon those people who did not sleep day and night for you. Don’t allow people to deceive you, but he won’t listen.”
On peace efforts between them, Wike said all is in Fubara’s hands as he knows what to do. He agreed that the suspended governor has met with some governors and an ex-governor, but the bottom line is that “Fubara knows what to do.”
Talking about the spate of defections rocking the PDP, as some major stakeholders are dumping the opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APP, Wike accused the PDP leadership of impunity and arrogance. He said that instead of galvanising party members as an opposition party, they have been arrogant, even in opposition.
“In opposition, you don’t show arrogance and impunity, you galvanise people. That is the main problem now.”
He said no one will roll them into any coalition for selfish reasons. If the party wants to go into any alliance, then all of them must sit and agree to that, not for someone to call a few people and say they are going into a coalition, Wike said.
“We didn’t send anybody to go into coalition. If we want it, we will all sit and decide,” he added.
On why he has not left the party since he doesn’t like what the party’s leadership is doing, he said he would not leave the house he built, but stay to correct it; he would not abandon it because he is not a coward.
“You think I should abandon the house I built because some people are doing what I don’t like? I will stay back there and correct it. I won’t do that, I’m not a coward,” he said
