The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, describing him as stingy and unfit to govern Nigeria.

Wike made the remarks during a town hall meeting with stakeholders in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he questioned Obi’s leadership capacity and dismissed his popularity on social media as insufficient preparation for the presidency.

The minister mocked Obi for reportedly carrying his own bags, arguing that a former governor should be able to employ a personal assistant to handle such responsibilities.

“As a former governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a personal assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president,” Wike said.

He described Obi as a candidate who enjoys significant support on social media but questioned whether that popularity would translate into the ability to govern the country.

“Truly speaking, I gave him president of social media. If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it is capital no!” he added.

Wike also questioned Obi’s record during his tenure as Anambra governor, urging Nigerians to assess his administration against the performance of the state’s incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

The FCT minister further criticised politicians who abandon their political parties during internal disputes, insisting that leadership requires the ability to confront challenges rather than leave when difficulties arise.

Referring to the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said he remained in the party and fought his political battles instead of defecting.

“How will you solve the problem of the country? Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he said.

He also expressed reservations about the leadership prospects associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential platform and questioned the reliability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he had known since their time in the PDP.

Wike reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he would back the party in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike revisits past Rivers projects

Beyond his criticism of opposition politicians, Wike urged Rivers residents to scrutinise the records of those seeking political office rather than rely solely on campaign promises.

He made several allegations concerning projects undertaken by the previous Rivers State administration, including the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital.

According to Wike, $39 million, which he put at approximately N53 billion, was spent on the hospital project, yet no foundation had been laid.

“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there is no foundation, no one block laid,” he alleged.

The minister also questioned the value delivered by the state’s monorail project, claiming that about N60 billion had been spent on it.

On the sale of a gas turbine, Wike alleged that the transaction was worth $308 million but claimed that only $308,000 remained in the relevant state account when he assumed office in May 2015.

He also recalled a proposal to spend $10 million on fumigating Rivers State to address mosquito bites, questioning the rationale behind the plan in a state that shares boundaries with several others.

The claims were presented by Wike as examples of why voters should examine the records of political officeholders. The allegations were not independently verified in his remarks.

Rainbow Coalition to unveil candidates

Wike also announced that the Rainbow Coalition would unveil its candidates on Tuesday, October 27, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He identified Kingsley Chinda as the coalition’s preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship race, adding that some of its candidates would contest under the APC despite the coalition drawing members from different political parties.

“Under the Rainbow Coalition in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he said.

The minister urged residents to support candidates he described as experienced and committed to public service, while assuring stakeholders that the concerns raised during the Bonny meeting would receive attention.

Wike praises Bonny-Bodo Road

Wike also highlighted the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road, describing it as a major achievement for residents of the island community.

He said the road had improved access to Bonny and reduced the difficulties residents previously experienced when travelling by boat.

According to the minister, he had informed President Tinubu that the project represented a significant benefit to the people of Bonny.

He maintained that infrastructure development and effective public service should remain central considerations for voters as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.