File photo of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi; and the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, as political gamblers, accusing them of repeatedly seeking the presidency without a clear vision for Nigeria.
Wike spoke on Friday during a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting in Ayama, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he also challenged former governors of the state to showcase their projects in the area.
Addressing traditional rulers, political leaders, academics, women, and youths, the minister urged Rivers residents not to entrust their future to politicians he accused of treating elections as games of chance.
He specifically criticised Atiku over his repeated attempts to become president, arguing that the opposition figures had yet to demonstrate the vision required to lead the country.
“Don’t trust your destiny to political gamblers. Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people.
“These people are political gamblers, and you cannot give your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people; you cannot hand over your destiny to political gamblers. Give your destiny to somebody we know, who has tried all this, and he has done it,” he said.
The minister argued that Nigerians should judge political leaders by their records in office rather than promises made during election campaigns.
Turning to his record as Rivers State governor, Wike challenged his predecessors to identify projects they executed in Abua/Odual, insisting that his administration had contributed significantly to the area’s development.
“I challenge any other person who was governor to come to Abua/Odual and point out what he or she did for the people of Abua/Odual,” he said.
He cited road infrastructure and improved connectivity as some of the achievements of his administration, arguing that such projects had helped open up communities and support economic activities.
The former governor also called on political leaders and stakeholders in the area to reconcile their differences and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike urged party members to close ranks, warning against internal divisions that could undermine their electoral prospects.
“We don’t want to lose one vote in this January 16, 2027, general election. I want all of us to win with a margin that will surprise everybody,” he said.
The FCT minister also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, praising his administration for what he described as efforts to stabilise critical sectors of the economy and restore industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
He called on residents of Abua/Odual to support Tinubu in 2027 and back candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.
The APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kinsley Chinda, commended Wike for his grassroots mobilisation efforts, saying the approach would inform his administration if elected.
“This is a system that will be sustained when we come into government. We have learnt from him, and we will continue. It will be a bottom-up approach; the people will decide and determine their fate in government,” he said.