- The FCT minister aimed digs at his political opponents.
- He expressed confidence that his opponents would ultimately lose, citing the presence of a prominent APC faction.
Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory, has claimed that Peter Obi’s camp aggressively sought his support before the 2023 elections, but he refused.
Wike made these statements during a private luncheon in Port Harcourt, where he hosted stakeholders and honored the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly.
He took jabs at his political opponents, stating that he had no regrets about supporting President Bola Tinubu.
According to Wike, groups within the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party are opposing him due to his influence.
Wike declared, “Let me tell you what is going on. I have no regret at all for supporting President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have no regret about it.”
He identified Atiku’s group, Peter Obi’s group, and some PDP governors as those who see him as a problem.
Wike emphasized that his actions were driven by a desire for equity and fairness, not personal gain.
He revealed that Obi’s group lobbied him extensively, but he declined, prioritizing Rivers state’s interests.
Additionally, Wike noted that some PDP members seeking the presidential ticket in 2027 are also against him.
“Let me tell you what is going on. I have no regret at all for supporting President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. I have no regret about it,” he said.
“All these things you are seeing… there is Atiku’s group, Peter Obi’s group and some few governors of the PDP who believe I’m a problem to them. I will continue to be a problem to them.
“Atiku’s group believes that I and my team stopped them from becoming president. What we stopped was injustice. All we wanted was equity and fairness.
“Obi’s group — they lobbied me so much. They can’t deny it. I said, ‘look, this won’t fly. Rivers state will not go to where we will not… it won’t fly’. There is also a gang-up. They are fighting us back. They are fighting themselves.
“There is another gang-up within the PDP who wants to be president and they say, ‘look if we don’t do anything now we have a problem’. I can assure you they will have a problem.
“There is another APC — very prominent. All these people combined, they will lose.”
In the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election, Wike’s decision to back Bola Tinubu over Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi sparked controversy.