FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a joint ticket of corruption.
Wike spoke on Monday during town hall meetings with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor said the ADC ticket would struggle to secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in Rivers State, while dismissing the opposition alliance as a coalition built around politicians with questionable records.
Wike also criticised Atiku over comments urging Nigerians to accept money offered by the ruling party during elections, describing it as an attempt to promote anti-corruption despite Atiku’s past controversies.
He said, “When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, that it will be stolen money, I said haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?”
He added, “The same Atiku that his boss described as corrupt and that one of his major regrets is making him (Atiku) his Vice President is talking.”
Wike urged Rivers residents to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential election, saying the president had brought development to the state and appointed several people from Rivers.
He said his major political focus was currently on ensuring Tinubu wins a second term.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s reelection. When I am eating, I think about the president’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s reelection,” Wike said.
He urged the people to set aside political sentiments and support Tinubu based on what he described as the administration’s achievements and appointments from Rivers State.
“I know the reelection of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure massive votes for him. We can do it,” he said.
Wike also warned against internal conflicts and communal disputes, urging political stakeholders in Rumueme and Apara to remain focused on their communities.
He said, “What will be, will be. You don’t need to kill yourself. Anything that God said would be, it would be.”
The FCT minister further described the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and other opposition politicians as unelectable.
‘Tinubu’s 2027 re-election will be easier than his 2023 victory’ – Wike