Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday explained why former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot win the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

He said Atiku’s presidential ambition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had violated the principle of rotation, which is premised on equity, fairness and justice.

Wike, who spoke on the state of the nation during his televised monthly chat, recalled that he, as a member of the Group of Five Governors (G5), opposed Atiku’s ambition as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the same reason.

He reaffirmed that he had resolved to be at the forefront of the struggle to actualise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, adding that if the opposition forms the next government, he would be the first major casualty.

The Minister, who lent his voice to the fuel subsidy debate, urged the 36 governors to explain to Nigerians how they had judiciously deployed the proceeds allocated to them to develop their states.

Wike also fired salvos at two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors – Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State – for working against him, despite his support for them in the past.

‘I won’t fold my hands and allow Atiku to win’

Wike said he would not sit back and allow Atiku to win the 2027 election.

He recalled how the G5 worked with former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to frustrate Atiku’s aspiration in the North-Central state in 2023, saying he had no apology to offer.

He emphasised that the decision to oppose Atiku was not taken by one individual, adding that it was a collective position of the G5.

He said the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Benue and other states reflected the impact of the G5’s rebellion against Atiku.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, maintained that the group’s position was driven by the struggle for equity, fairness and respect for power rotation within the PDP.

He said the PDP leadership failed to uphold the principle of balancing political power between the North and the South ahead of the 2023 election.

The Minister disclosed that he would be visiting Rivers State, his political base, regularly ahead of the polls to enable him to coordinate consultations and mobilisation for the President’s second term.

He said: “You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election? No way.

“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.”

Besides, the Minister said his strong family and political roots in the state made it impossible for him to remain permanently disconnected from the people.

Wike said: “My parents are still alive,” adding that his regular visits to Rivers were both personal and political.

The Minister said his loyalty to President Tinubu was total, adding that he was fully conscious of the consequences of his defeat in 2027.

“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the President’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the President’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the President’s re-election.”

He added that his experience in Nigerian politics had taught him that loyalty and political conviction often came with personal attacks and sustained criticism.

‘Uzodimma, AbdulRazaq working against me’

Wike lamented that the governors of Kwara and Imo were working against him, despite his support for them, adding that he had had cause to confront AbdulRazaq over his hostility towards him.

He said: “Take, for example, Kwara. He has been the one championing this campaign against me everywhere. Yes, I have confronted him too. I don’t talk about what I cannot defend.”

The Minister said AbdulRazaq had accused him of sponsoring candidates against his preferred choices in Kwara.

However, he said the Kwara governor ought to appreciate the role he played in providing a platform for aggrieved APC members who defected to the PDP.

Wike said the aggrieved politicians could have instead joined the coalition opposed to President Tinubu if he had not offered them the platform.

Wike, who spoke about his relationship with Uzodimma, said the Imo State governor was fully aware of the support he had received from him in the past.

He said: “Governor Hope, he knows the support I gave to him.”

The FCT Minister, however, did not give further details of the alleged disagreement between him and the Imo State governor.

But he maintained that his political disagreements with the two governors would not distract him from his determination to work for President Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike, a lawyer, accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of abandoning its role as an impartial defender of justice and the rule of law, alleging that the association had become partisan.

Wike also took a swipe at his predecessor, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, saying that his past actions while in office had raised questions about his suitability for the office of Vice President.

He said Nigerians should critically examine the records of political leaders seeking elective offices, particularly those who portray themselves as defenders of democracy and constitutionalism.

He said the past actions of political leaders should not be ignored merely because they are seeking higher political offices.

Wike said: “Rotimi Amaechi, who wants to be Vice President today, once shut down the courts in Rivers State and caused a pregnant woman to give birth in prison.

“Anybody who did that and is now talking about becoming Vice President, Nigerians should ask questions.”

The Minister argued that anyone aspiring to occupy a sensitive executive position must have a record that reflects respect for democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary.

He maintained that actions capable of undermining the judicial system should remain a subject of public scrutiny.

Wike criticised the leadership of the NBA, accusing the body of taking political positions rather than maintaining the neutrality expected of a professional association.

He said the NBA, which has historically been regarded as a major voice in the defence of constitutionalism and the rule of law, must resist being drawn into partisan politics.

Wike added: “The NBA has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party.”

He added that professional bodies must be careful not to create the impression that they were supporting particular political interests or candidates.

The NBA was led in the last two years by Afam Osigwe (SAN), who stepped down at the weekend for the new president, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SANO.

Wike defends Edu

Wike defended the inclusion of persons facing investigations in political campaign structures, saying that an ongoing probe does not strip anyone of the right to canvass votes.

He was reacting to the controversy triggered by the appointment of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Edu was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated.

The Minister questioned the moral basis for preventing a person under investigation from participating in a campaign when individuals facing criminal charges could contest elections and emerge victorious.

He said: “You were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say.

“Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes for a particular person, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win an election?”

Wike recalled that persons facing criminal charges in court had contested elections and become governors.

He said: “This person had an EFCC case in court, charged to court. He contested an election and became a governor.

“Listen. Even a prisoner… maybe they have somebody in prison. I go and visit the person. The person can tell me, ‘My brother, I want you to support so-and-so candidate.’ A prisoner has canvassed for votes.”

Wike said even those accused of planning a coup were still campaigning for candidates of their choice.

The Minister maintained that an investigation remains an allegation until otherwise determined by a court.

Wike urges governors to account for subsidy allocations

The Minister challenged governors to demonstrate how they had utilised the increased revenues available to them following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Wike said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum should be very accountable, insisting that the governors should provide evidence of how the additional allocations had been used for projects, salaries, pensions and public services.

He defended the petrol subsidy removal, saying it had expanded the revenue pool available to the Federal Government, states and local governments.

He said increased revenues had improved states’ ability to meet their financial obligations and reduced labour disputes over unpaid salaries.

Wike said: “Rivers State government is accountable to the citizens. Anambra State government is accountable because they have been elected by citizens of those states, not by the entire federation of Nigeria.”

He challenged governors to present concrete evidence of how the additional allocations had been deployed, including projects and programmes financed with the increased revenue.

He said: “If Governor Diri says, look, challenge me. The money that came, see what I’ve done for Bayelsa State, fine.”

The Minister said the fuel subsidy removal policy should not be judged solely by the controversy surrounding its implementation, but by what governments had done with the additional resources at their disposal.

He stressed that governments should be prepared to show citizens tangible results from public spending and explain how additional resources had translated into improved services and infrastructure.

Wike insisted that these extra resources had significantly bolstered states’ financial health and reduced industrial friction. (The Nation)