Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh verbal attack on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, mocking his habit of carrying his own bags and questioning his suitability to govern Nigeria as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the remarks on Saturday, October 24, 2026, during a town hall interactive meeting with stakeholders in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he criticised Obi’s public image, political record and perceived approach to leadership.
The FCT minister described Obi as a politician whose popularity was largely driven by social media, arguing that online support alone did not demonstrate the experience and capacity required to lead a country as complex as Nigeria.
“Truly speaking, I gave him president of social media. If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it capital no!” Wike said.
He also took aim at Obi’s reputation for personal frugality, using the former governor’s habit of carrying his own luggage as an example of what he portrayed as excessive stinginess.
“As a former Governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a Personal Assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president,” Wike said.
The remarks add to the increasingly combative political exchanges among prominent figures positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike has repeatedly questioned the credentials of opposition figures while openly declaring his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike also challenged Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, arguing that voters should assess the former governor’s performance in office rather than rely on his public reputation. He pointed to the administration of incumbent Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo as a reference point in evaluating the state’s development.
The minister did not limit his criticism to Obi. He also questioned the decisions of politicians who change political parties during periods of internal disagreement, arguing that leadership requires the ability to confront political challenges rather than leave when circumstances become difficult.
Using his own experience in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an example, Wike said he had remained in the party during internal crises and fought his political battles rather than abandon the platform.
“How will you solve the problem of the country? Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he said.
The minister subsequently turned his attention to Rivers State’s development record under former governor Rotimi Amaechi, raising questions about several projects and financial transactions associated with Amaechi’s administration between 2007 and 2015.
One of the projects he cited was the proposed 1,000-bed Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital. Wike alleged that $39 million had been spent on the project but questioned the level of construction achieved.
“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there’s no foundation, no one block laid,” he said.
The allegation is part of a series of criticisms Wike has made concerning major projects undertaken during Amaechi’s tenure. Earlier in October, the minister also questioned the expenditure associated with the hospital and the reported cost of the Rivers State monorail project. <Cite refs={[“turn121320search16″,”turn121320search1”]}/>
Wike criticised the monorail project, claiming that approximately ₦60 billion had been spent on it and questioning its functionality and the benefits delivered to residents. Other reports have cited a figure of ₦68 billion in connection with his criticism of the project.
He also revisited the sale of Rivers State’s gas turbine power plants, alleging that the transaction was worth $308 million and questioning what happened to the proceeds. Wike said that when he assumed office as governor in May 2015, only a small fraction of the reported proceeds remained in the relevant state account.
The minister had previously challenged Amaechi to account for the transaction, arguing that residents deserved a clear explanation of how the proceeds were handled. <Cite refs={[“turn121320search3″,”turn121320search6”]}/>
Another issue raised by Wike was a reported $10 million expenditure on fumigation intended to tackle mosquitoes across Rivers State. He questioned the rationale and effectiveness of the exercise, arguing that the reported expenditure required scrutiny given the continuing problem of mosquito bites.
The allegations concerning the hospital, monorail, gas turbine sale and fumigation exercise remain claims advanced by Wike. A comprehensive assessment of the transactions would require examination of relevant contracts, payment records, audit findings and project documentation, alongside responses from the former administration.
Turning to national politics, Wike criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and expressed doubts about its political leadership and the credibility of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he said he had known from their time in the PDP.
He reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he would back the president in the 2027 election.
The minister has been using the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition to mobilise political support across party lines. The coalition brings together politicians from different political parties and seeks to coordinate support for Tinubu alongside candidates endorsed for other elective positions.
Explaining the arrangement, Wike said the coalition was intended to reduce political divisions and violence in Rivers State, even as its members prepared to contest elections under different party platforms.
“Under a Rainbow Coalition, that’s why in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he said.
Wike announced that the coalition would unveil its candidates on Tuesday, October 27, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections. He also named Kingsley Chinda as the coalition’s preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship race and disclosed other names for elective positions.
The coalition’s strategy reflects Wike’s continued effort to maintain influence over Rivers State politics while backing Tinubu at the presidential level. Recent reports have similarly documented his mobilisation of political groups and endorsement of candidates associated with the coalition. <Cite refs={[“turn121320search2″,”turn121320search10”]}/>
The minister urged residents to support politicians he described as experienced and committed to public service, insisting that voters should evaluate candidates based on their records, achievements and capacity to deliver results rather than campaign slogans or popularity.
He also highlighted infrastructure development in Bonny, praising the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road and its bridge network. According to Wike, the project has improved access to the island community and reduced the difficulties residents previously faced when travelling by boat.
He said he had informed President Tinubu that the road’s completion represented a major achievement for Bonny, underscoring the importance of transport infrastructure to economic activity and community development.
Wike’s comments underline the increasingly sharp political exchanges expected ahead of the 2027 elections, with prominent figures defending their records, questioning those of their opponents and seeking to consolidate regional support.
While the minister’s remarks have placed Obi’s leadership credentials and personal style at the centre of the latest political debate, the claims about Rivers State projects also raise questions that can best be resolved through documentary evidence, independent scrutiny and responses from the individuals concerned.
Ultimately, voters will have to assess the competing claims, examine the records of those seeking public office and decide which candidates they believe can best address Nigeria’s economic, security and governance challenges.
