Rattled Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has accused members of the All Progressives Governors Forum of being “politically lazy” over their opposition to his Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike pointedly took exception to the resolution of the APC governors, warning that they should not in any way invoke Tinubu’s political interests to justify disagreements arising from his political activities.
Wike, who stated these when he featured Arise Television programme to respond to the APC Governors’ position in which they clearly declared that they would not participate, support or endorse any political alliance capable of creating confusion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC Governors specifically said that they would not be part of any arrangement or coalition of any sort that would undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or affect APC candidates at any level.
But, while speaking during on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday, Wike said his decision to support President Tinubu did not amount to abandoning his political party or prevented other political parties from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.
In the words of Wike; “They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse. The disagreement between me and some political actors did not begin with my decision to support President Tinubu.
“I faced opposition from some quarters during my tenure as governor of Rivers State and later after my appointment as FCT Minister. This thing did not start today. It started at a ministerial position.
“They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” the FCT Minister enthused.
Wike noted that some of those criticising his political decisions might have a different understanding of the situation if they had access to the information available to him.
The former governor of Rivers State comments come amid heightened political maneuvering as the 2027 elections gather momentum, with political actors and stakeholders forming alliances and realignments from one part of the country to the other.
The All Progressives Governors Forum chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma on Monday night rose from its meeting and declared stiff opposition against any alliance that could threaten Tinubu’s re-election campaign or the electoral interests of APC candidates.
The APC governors’ resolve expectedly, put them at odds with Wike’s efforts to build political relationships outside the traditional boundaries of his party as the 2027 political season gathers steam.
Wike is however, insisting that supporting President Tinubu did not mean that he had surrendered his political identity or accepted a situation where opposition parties would be prevented from contesting elections.
