The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, declaring that Rivers State will support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike spoke on Tuesday while addressing youths of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, where he urged them to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu and other candidates associated with the coalition.
The minister questioned Atiku’s credibility, citing his past political association with the former vice-president.
“I have been in the same party with Atiku Abubakar. He is not a man who keeps to his words. What he says in the night is not what he says in the morning,” Wike said.
He also criticised Atiku’s repeated presidential bids, describing him as a political gambler and questioning whether his ambition would benefit Nigerians.
Wike also attacked Obi, describing him as a “social media president” and a “fake man”.
“You can make him the president of social media so that he can be going to IDP camps to be celebrating their birthdays and buying corn on the road,” the minister said.
“It’s fake. Who are you going to deceive? When you were a governor, you didn’t go to the IDP camp to do your birthday, you didn’t go to buy fuel by yourself. All of a sudden, just because you want to be president, you are now going. Who are you going to deceive?” he said.
He challenged opposition leaders to identify projects they had executed for the benefit of Rivers residents, arguing that political support should be based on tangible achievements rather than popularity.
Defending his support for Tinubu, Wike said Rivers State had benefited from federal appointments and infrastructure projects under the current administration.
He claimed that at least 49 indigenes of the state currently occupy prominent positions in the Federal Government, describing the figure as unprecedented in the current democratic dispensation.
The minister also cited the Bonny-Bodo Road and bridge network as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development in the state.
“We’re not looking for those who are fine or finer. We’re looking for those who will do something that will positively impact Nigerians and also impact Rivers people,” he said.
Wike urged the youths to take the campaign to communities and engage grassroots leaders in support of Tinubu.
“Whether you are Atiku, whether you are Obi, Rivers State is for Tinubu!” he declared.
He also announced that the Rivers Rainbow Coalition would unveil its candidates on October 27.
The APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, who spoke at the event, pledged to prioritise youth empowerment, vocational training and community development if elected.
Chinda said his proposed administration would restructure the state’s education system to give greater attention to technical and vocational skills from primary to secondary school.
He said the state should develop skilled workers in trades such as tiling, carpentry and electrical installation rather than depend on other locations for such services.
“There will be no compromise. We can only build the state if we build the youths,” he said.
He added that local government chairmen across the state’s 23 local government areas would be expected to prioritise youth welfare and vocational training centres.
Meanwhile, youth leaders at the gathering pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates associated with the Rainbow Coalition.
Chima Aguma, coordinator of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition Youth and South-South coordinator of City Boys, assured Wike of grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bani Nwisabari, chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, presented a recognition plaque to Wike in acknowledgement of his role in political inclusion and youth empowerment.
Nwisabari, who said he had benefited from Wike’s appointment to the state’s Senior Secondary School Board, pledged continued support for the minister’s political initiative.
Similarly, Justice Uranta, president of the National Union of Rivers State Students, said students would mobilise across the state’s 23 local government areas, campuses and the diaspora to support Tinubu and Chinda.
He cited the establishment of a permanent NURSS secretariat as one of the initiatives aimed at improving student welfare.
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