The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as “political gamblers” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the remarks on Friday during a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting in Ayama, Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he mobilised support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Addressing traditional rulers, political leaders, academics, women and youths at the gathering, the minister urged Rivers residents not to entrust their future to opposition politicians whom he accused of repeatedly seeking the presidency without a clear vision for Nigeria.
“Don’t trust your destiny to political gamblers. Don’t trust your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people,” Wike told the gathering.
He argued that Nigerians should assess political leaders based on their records in public office, development projects and capacity to deliver on their promises rather than their repeated attempts to secure the presidency.
“These people are political gamblers and you cannot give your destiny to ‘kalokalo’ people; you cannot hand over your destiny to political gamblers. Give your destiny to somebody who we know, who has tried all this, and he has done it,” he said.
Wike specifically criticised Atiku over his repeated presidential ambitions, arguing that seeking the presidency multiple times without a convincing national development agenda would not address Nigeria’s challenges.
Atiku and Amaechi are associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), according to reports of Wike’s remarks.
The FCT minister also challenged former governors of Rivers State to identify projects they executed in Abua/Odual during their tenures.
“I challenge any other person who was governor to come to Abua/Odual and point out what he or she did for the people of Abua/Odual,” he said.
Defending his record as Rivers State governor between 2015 and 2023, Wike urged residents to judge politicians by their achievements and infrastructure delivery rather than campaign promises.
He also praised Tinubu’s administration, claiming it had stabilised critical sectors and restored industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
Wike called on Rivers residents to support Tinubu in 2027, alongside candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition, including APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda, Felix Obua for Rivers West Senatorial District and Solomon Boss for the Abua/Odual-Ahoada East Federal Constituency.
He also urged support for John Iderima, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Abua/Odual State Constituency.
The APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, commended Wike for mobilising support for Tinubu and other candidates backed by the coalition.
Chinda said the coalition intended to sustain what he described as a bottom-up approach to governance, adding that the people should determine their political future.
Earlier, Professor Continue Eketu, speaking on behalf of Abua/Odual communities, praised Wike and highlighted projects executed in the area during his tenure as governor.
The remarks come as political parties and their aspirants intensify activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures and supporters of the incumbent administration positioning themselves for the contest.
