The Renewed Hope Movement of Nigeria has called for national concern and objective scrutiny of the alleged assassination attempt on Lt. A. M. Yerima, an officer reported to have recently been in confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.
Amb. Yusuf Kanhu, National Coordinator of the group, said in a statement made available on Monday that the emergence of the alleged attack has triggered political interpretations and speculations across the country.
According to him, “this sudden twist must not be taken in isolation. It reflects the larger political atmosphere in play, and the timing of the development raises serious questions about whether it is coincidental or deliberately orchestrated.”
He noted that the incident comes at a time when some political actors, particularly among sections of the northern elite, are intensifying calls for the removal of Barr. Wike as FCT Minister.
He said the trend suggests a possible pattern aimed at projecting a narrative of regional entitlement over leadership of the Federal Capital Territory.
Kanhu observed that from the start of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, “loud voices” opposed Wike’s appointment, insisting wrongly that Abuja’s leadership should remain the exclusive preserve of one region and one religious identity.
He added that such thinking is divisive and harmful to national unity.
He said, “the hostility against the Minister intensified after his engagement with the State of Israel over an embassy space. Those opposed to him seized the opportunity to fuel old sentiments, framing his actions as a departure from established regional and religious expectations.”
According to him, the Federal Capital Territory under Wike has experienced renewed order, improved infrastructure, and stronger urban management, yet the push to remove him has grown more aggressive.
Kanhu insisted that Nigerians must reject entitlement-based politics and allow leadership to be guided by performance and national interest.
He warned that it was premature and misleading to link the alleged attack on Lt. Yerima directly to the FCT Minister without credible investigation.
He added that the convergence of events, escalating media frenzy, and coordinated calls for Wike’s removal suggest deeper political motives.
The coordinator said recent developments—including the controversial removal of the former Chief of Defence Staff—have heightened fears that certain interests may be working to weaken or eliminate southern Christian officials from strategic positions, reinforcing allegations of systematic exclusion.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take note of recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Nigeria and ensure that internal political tensions do not create room for the country to be classified internationally as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
