The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, of disrespecting Nigeria and its national symbols, describing him as lawless and divisive.
Wike made the allegation on Friday while addressing stakeholders at a town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The event was organised under the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The minister criticised Obi over an alleged refusal to stand during the singing of Nigeria’s national anthem while reportedly standing for another anthem.
According to Wike, the former Anambra State governor’s conduct raises questions about his commitment to national unity and his suitability for the presidency.
He said, “A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up.”
Wike further argued that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria should demonstrate respect for the country’s national symbols.
“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country,” he added.
The FCT minister also questioned Obi’s political record, accusing him of abandoning political parties whenever internal disagreements arise instead of remaining to resolve the disputes.
He equally faulted Obi for allegedly failing to conduct local government elections throughout his eight-year tenure as governor of Anambra State, describing it as inconsistent with his public commitment to the rule of law.
Wike subsequently turned his attention to the opposition coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
He questioned their records in public office, particularly Amaechi’s performance as Minister of Transportation, and raised concerns about the condition of seaports during his tenure.
The minister also alleged that the Government Secondary School in Ogu was demolished during Amaechi’s administration without being rebuilt, while a proposed 1,000-bed specialist hospital was never delivered.
Wike urged residents to disregard what he described as the political rhetoric of opposition politicians, insisting that the Tinubu administration had delivered tangible projects and appointments to the area.
He cited the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre, facilitated through the federal appointment of an indigene, Boma Iyaye, as one of the benefits of the administration’s interventions.
Earlier, Chairman of the council, Vincent Nemieboka, expressed the community’s support for Wike, attributing their loyalty to projects and political appointments secured for the area.
Similarly, the Amanyanabo of Bolo, King Acheseinimie Frank, highlighted several projects executed through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), including sand-filling works, internal roads and the construction and maintenance of the Kira-Ogu-Bolo Road.
Frank also disclosed that Ogu-Bolo had benefited from three major political appointments facilitated through Wike’s office.
The Chairman of the Ogu Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Abeabiari, disclosed that the community had named two locations after the minister: Wike Road at Enelechi Phase 1 and Wike Sandfield.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Prof. Lucky Worika commended Wike and President Tinubu for what he described as increased federal presence in the area.
He listed some of the appointments secured for indigenes, including Boma Iyaye as Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the NDDC, Dame Maureen Tamuno as Managing Director of the Abuja Investment Company, and Senator George Sekibo as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal Oil and Gas Polytechnic.
Worika also attributed 19 ongoing development interventions across the local government area to Iyaye’s appointment at the NDDC.
The projects, according to him, include the reconstruction of Ogu General Hospital with a 70kVA solar power station, the Ele/Opu-ama Link Road, Kira-Bolo Road, internal roads, streetlights, sand-filling projects and low-cost housing estates.
He added that the interventions covered teachers’ quarters, scholarships, free medical missions and youth skills acquisition programmes.
Worika further recalled projects executed during Wike’s tenure as Rivers State governor and Minister of State for Education, including the reconstruction of GSS Ogu, Kira Bridge, Ogu/Eteo and Ogu/Wakama link roads, and a landing jetty in Ele Community.
He, however, appealed for further federal intervention in the area’s riverine communities, particularly in healthcare delivery, potable water, electricity, maritime transportation and environmental sustainability.
The stakeholders also pledged their support for Tinubu’s re-election and the Rainbow Coalition’s preferred candidates in the 2027 elections.
Abeabiari assured Wike that the community would deliver votes for the APC and coalition candidates, declaring that the expected victory would be evident by midday on January 16, 2027.
