Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the political support that propelled Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the movement no longer exists ahead of the 2027 polls.
Wike also described Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Anambra State governor, as a dramatist, claiming he had nothing to offer Nigerians.
The minister made the remarks on Thursday during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he questioned the electoral prospects of the NDC presidential ticket featuring Obi and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“All this so-called Obi kererenke doesn’t exist again. I have killed it,” Wike said.
He argued that the political conditions that contributed to Obi’s strong performance in the 2023 presidential election had changed.
“Nigerians know that Obi has nothing to offer, he is a dramatist. You were there when Soludo exposed him,” the minister said.
Wike also criticised the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, arguing that Nigerians had previously given him and other political figures opportunities to govern without delivering the expected results.
“Nigerians know that Atiku and co have been given the opportunity, but they did not do anything. Nigerians know that the former governor of Rivers State looted our state,” he said.
The FCT minister acknowledged Kwankwaso’s popularity but questioned whether his political influence extended beyond Kano State, where he secured victory in the 2023 presidential election.
“I agree that Kwankwaso is very popular, but he ran in 2023 and won in Kano, fine, but what about the other northern states? What about the North-Central, what will happen there?” he asked.
Wike further challenged the extent of Obi’s current financial and popular backing, questioning whether supporters were still contributing to his political campaign at the level witnessed in 2023.
“The Obi wave is dead and buried. How many people are contributing money for Obi today?” he said.