Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ruled himself out of possibly running for the presidential seat against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2027 general election.
Wike said that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, remained his political son and had been misled by those determined to reap where they had not sown politically.
Baring his mind in an interview with BBC Pidgin, the Minister said no politician was capable of challenging Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
“I will not contest again. I cannot contest against someone I am working with. Who will win except him?” he asked.
There have been discussions within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) about zoning its presidential ticket to the south in 2027 with the aim of presenting a stronger challenge against Tinubu.
Wike lost the 2022 PDP presidential primary election to Atiku Abubakar, who became the party’s candidate for the 2023 election.
While addressing the ongoing crisis within the PDP, Wike expressed his frustration with certain party members and criticised the opposition party’s policies.
“You are in the opposition; the opposition does not show impunity. The opposition does not show arrogance, it is the ruling party that shows impunity and arrogance because they are in power.
“Who is in the PDP? Achike Udenwa, former Governor of Imo –he does not have one assembly member. He does not have one National Assembly member. He did not give his party 3% of the vote, yet he is threatening.
“Samuel Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi, he does not have one assembly member. He does not have one National Assembly member. You did not produce a Fovernor. What are you threatening about? You are empty. What are you threatening?” he said
Speaking on the Fubara debacle that culminated in the ouster of the Governor in the declaration of a state of emergency, the Minister said the battle was not against his estranged godson, but those reportedly stoking the quarrel between them.
Wike said, “That one is not a battle. He (Fubara) is my boy, he is my son, why will I fight with him?
“I’m only fighting against people who want to steal what they did not work for.
“When you don’t defeat them, they will think you….. Defeat them to the final stage.
“Now, they are ashamed because they are being defeated. They are the ones pushing Fubara.”
