Wike Fires Back at APC Governors, Defends Tinubu Alliance: “Only President Can Question Me”

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has hit back at governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that their criticism of him has nothing to do with his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.

Wike, who spoke during a televised interview with Charles Aniagolu of Arise Television on Tuesday, said President Tinubu was the person who appointed him Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressing that he had never undertaken any political action without informing the President of his intentions.

According to him, if President Tinubu decides that their political relationship should end, he would accept the decision.

“It’s only President Tinubu that put me in this position. If Mr President said, ‘Look, we are done,’ to God be the glory,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor also dismissed claims about the political influence of APC governors, arguing that influence should be measured by a governor’s ability to deliver electoral support for the President in his own state.

“A governor who is influential, the President cannot win an election in his state, should not call himself influential,” he said.

Wike specifically criticised Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, questioning his electoral record and accusing him of making repeated references to Wike.

He also took a swipe at Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, saying the governor frequently blames him for political developments in the state.

“The governor of Kwara, so unfortunate, anytime he sees a snake, it’s Wike. Anytime he sees a reptile, it’s Wike. Any day he doesn’t eat, it’s Wike,” Wike said.

He further alleged that political changes involving senators and members of the House of Representatives in Kwara had occurred under AbdulRazaq’s watch.

Addressing the question of whether his political relevance had diminished because of his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike maintained that his relationship with Tinubu remained intact.

He said the criticism from APC governors was unrelated to his relationship with the President, adding that Tinubu was aware of his activities.

Wike also defended his performance as FCT Minister, saying the projects executed under his administration had attracted public attention.

“I’m an FCT Minister, I’m not a governor. I don’t attend their Governors’ Forum meetings. But whatever resources I get, the world sees it,” he said.

On his political activities in Rivers State, Wike said leadership required bringing different political interests together for the benefit of the people rather than allowing partisan divisions to fuel conflict.

He recalled the political crisis involving him and PDP governors, alleging that some of the same governors who are now critical of him had previously encouraged efforts to politically isolate him.

Wike also reiterated that he had supported President Tinubu from the outset but had never promised to join the APC.

“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC. Go and ask him,” he said.

He added that if he eventually decided to join the APC, the decision would be his and would not be dictated by Governor Uzodinma or any other politician.

“If I want to join APC, it’s not people like Hope who will tell me to join APC,” Wike said.

The FCT Minister further maintained that he would not compromise his principles or misuse public resources for political purposes, saying he had never “sold” his support for the President for personal financial gain.

“I’m never going to meet a President for a dime. In all this I do, I have never, and I will not do it,” he said.