Wike to Opposition: Political rivalry should not erase Tinubu’s achievements

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said political rivalry should not prevent Nigerians from recognizing President Bola Tinubu’s achievements.

Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike accused opposition politicians of misrepresenting the administration’s performance and urged Nigerians to assess the president’s record fairly.

“Whether anybody likes it or not, Mr President has done well,” he said.

Wike said political competition should not compel opposition parties to dismiss every action of the incumbent government.

“Politics must not be played as a do-or-die affair,” he said.

He argued that claims that the government had achieved nothing were driven by the opposition’s desire to take power.

Wike cited Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, whom he described as belonging to the opposition Allied Peoples Movement (APM), as an example of an opposition figure who had acknowledged aspects of Tinubu’s performance.

According to Wike, such assessments show that support for the President can come from outside the All Progressives Congress (APC) without constituting a betrayal.

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He said the emerging Rainbow Coalition backing Tinubu’s re-election was partly formed to counter what he described as unfair criticism of the administration.

Wike explained that the coalition brings together APC members and Tinubu supporters from other parties to mobilize support for the President’s second term.

He said the initiative was not intended to eliminate political differences but to encourage cooperation around a shared objective, adding that political realities vary across states.

The minister pointed to his role in coordinating support for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State as an example of how competing political interests could be managed.

He said a leader’s influence could be measured by the ability to persuade supporters to embrace a particular course of action.

Wike urged Nigerians to evaluate the government based on its record rather than rely solely on partisan claims. He also called for closer scrutiny of politicians seeking higher office, particularly their records in public service.

He said such scrutiny was necessary to help voters make informed choices in 2027.