By Obinna Uballa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that he promised President Bola Tinubu to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the allegation as a lie borne out of frustration.
Wike also rejected reports that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has emerged as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state following his defection, insisting that party leadership is not automatically conferred by office.
The minister spoke on Monday during an end-of-year media parley with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he addressed a wide range of political controversies spanning Rivers politics, PDP internal crisis, and his relationship with key political actors.
‘Fubara is not APC leader in Rivers’
Reacting to claims that Governor Fubara is now the APC leader in Rivers State, Wike said such assertions betray a poor understanding of party structures.
According to him, leadership in political parties flows from the grassroots, not from occupying government office.
“There is nothing like 001 in the state. You register in your ward, and your local government is in your ward. Everybody registers in his own ward. You could be the first person to register, but not in the sense that by becoming governor you automatically become leader of the party,” Wike said.
While acknowledging that governors often assume party leadership in practice, Wike stressed that leadership must be earned. “Leadership is not because I am a governor. You must have something that makes you a leader,” he added.
He said the lingering political crisis in Rivers State stemmed from the breakdown of trust over a peace agreement meant to resolve the dispute between the executive and the House of Assembly.
Wike accused Fubara of being economical with the truth over reconciliation efforts, insisting that the governor was present at meetings involving lawmakers and party elders.
“The governor cannot say there was no meeting between the speaker and the leadership of the House. He was present. I don’t like politicians who don’t say the truth,” Wike said, adding that certain comments made on national television worsened the crisis.
He also accused the governor of failing to take basic political steps that signal commitment to unity. “Nobody told me to go and visit the Assembly to say thank you for their support. I don’t need anybody to tell me to call the speaker and say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. These are things you do to show seriousness,” he said.
‘Makinde’s claim is a lie’
Turning to the PDP crisis, Wike flatly denied Makinde’s claim that he told President Tinubu he would weaken the opposition party ahead of 2027.
The New Diplomat recalls that Makinde had alleged that during a visit to the Presidential Villa, Wike made such a promise to the president.
“That is a blatant lie. There was no such meeting,” Wike said.
He explained that the visit in question took place after the 2023 elections and involved himself, former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Makinde.
“We went to see the president after the elections were over, to discuss certain things. There was nothing like booking a meeting to go and tell Mr President that I would hold PDP down for him,” he said.
Wike questioned why Makinde waited so long to raise the allegation if it were true. “Why didn’t he come out immediately to tell the party what I supposedly said?” he asked.
He insisted that his support for Tinubu has never been hidden and did not require any special pledge. “Everyone knows my position on Tinubu. I don’t need a meeting to tell him that,” Wike said.
‘Makinde is frustrated, lacks courage’
Wike further accused the Oyo governor of political frustration, claiming Makinde lacked the courage to openly declare his presidential ambition.
“He doesn’t even have the guts to tell us he wants to run for president,” Wike said. “There is nothing wrong with ambition, but ambition must be pursued according to the rules.”
He added that politics is not business. “Politics is not like being a contractor with Shell. It has different rules,” he said.
Wike also alleged that Makinde was unhappy because President Tinubu did not approve his nominee for a ministerial appointment.
He further referenced the controversy surrounding federal funds released after the Bodija explosion in Ibadan, claiming Makinde received significant support from the Tinubu administration.
However, Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, had earlier clarified that the Federal Government released N30 billion, not N50 billion, explaining that part of the funds went directly to victims while the remainder was used for reconstruction.
Wike maintained that the Oyo governor owed residents an explanation on how the funds were spent and said such expenditure should have been properly appropriated.
On FCT governance, Tinubu loyalty
The FCT minister also dismissed suggestions of a breakdown in his relationship with Senator Ireti Kingibe, citing a letter in which she commended him for rehabilitating a major Abuja road.
He listed improvements in security, infrastructure and transportation in the FCT since he assumed office, admitting that sanitation challenges arose from the termination of old contracts and ongoing procurement processes.
Wike said he remains focused on governance and loyal to President Tinubu, stressing that politicians must learn to honour commitments at all times.
