In a recent exchange that has drawn attention across Nigeria’s political landscape, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has publicly criticised a group of governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The comments, which focus on alleged political trickery and opportunism, were made in the context of the 2023 presidential election and the ongoing rivalry between the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike used the term “politrick” – a blend of “politics” and “trick” – to describe what he sees as the deceptive behaviour of APC leaders. He described the party’s governors, led by Hope Uzodimma, as “people who are smart like the 419ners, but they are politically lazy.” The phrase “419ners” refers to individuals who obtain power through false pretence for private gain.
In a pointed critique, Wike singled out Uzodimma, the chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, for failing to deliver on votes for APC’s presidential candidate Bola Tinubu. He noted that in Imo State, the APC could not secure up to 10 per cent of the votes for Tinubu yet won two of the state’s three senatorial seats. He made a similar observation about Ebonyi State, where the APC did not achieve 20 per cent of the presidential vote but swept all three senatorial seats.
Wike also accused APC governors of deceiving Rivers State’s former governor, Sim Fubara, by luring him into the party and then contributing to his loss in the 2027 gubernatorial race. He highlighted that Fubara was positioned as the APC’s “001” in Rivers but was ultimately defeated by Wike’s surrogate, Kingsley Chinda, who ran under the PDP banner before the APC’s apparatus shifted support to Wike’s candidate.
Beyond the Rivers State dispute, Wike has outlined a pattern of shifting loyalty that he claims has defined his political career. From his early days as a local government chairman under Governor Peter Odili, to his tenure as chief of staff for Governor Chibuike Amaechi, and later as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Goodluck Jonathan, Wike has been described as “fiercely loyal to the source of power that tests his allegiance.”
In 2023, Wike’s role in the political realignment that led to Tinubu’s presidential victory was highlighted. Critics argue that Wike’s support for Tinubu was driven by personal ambition rather than a genuine commitment to southern interests. Despite these accusations, Wike maintains that his political strategy is proactive and that he will support any candidate who aligns with his interests and those of his party.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
