The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ridiculed former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, saying he would continue contesting for President on social media, not in Nigeria.
Wike made the remark on Thursday during the inauguration of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja. His comments came in response to Obi’s recent criticism of the poor state of public schools in the FCT.
Background to the Clash
Obi had visited LEA Primary School in Kapwa on Wednesday, where he described the conditions as a “national disgrace” and proof of Nigeria’s weak commitment to education. He lamented the lack of chairs, toilets, and basic classroom facilities, attributing the situation to leadership failure.
Wike’s Response
Reacting to the remarks, Wike accused Obi of politicising every issue and resorting to emotional public gestures to win sympathy on social media. The FCT minister maintained that his administration was addressing infrastructural challenges and accused critics of overlooking the government’s ongoing reforms.
“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to one of the Local Authority area schools and was saying that the government has abandoned public schools. In particular, his name is Mr Peter Obi. It is not everything you must play politics with,” Wike said.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has questioned the moral standing of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to criticise any government on infrastructure.
“Let me say this, Peter Obi, you were governor for eight years in Anambra State. If you had finished all the jobs in eight years, nobody would be talking about developing Anambra by now.
“And why did you have problems with your successor?” he stated.
Wike accused Obi of neglecting infrastructural development during his tenure as Anambra State governor, alleging that he prioritised personal financial interests over the welfare of the people.
“Mr Peter Obi, we just came into office two years ago, we have not even served four years. But you served eight good years. Compare two years in office of what we have done in FCT, and compare eight years in office in Anambra, can you really say you love this country? Can you really say you love Ndi Anambra? Certainly not.”
“You will continue to contest as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria. You ran as President under a party; you cannot manage the party.
“Ordinary party, you cannot manage the party to hold the party together, you cannot. It is Nigeria of two hundred and something million people that you want to manage. It’s not available for people like you,” Wike stated.
