Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has questioned Peter Obi’s perceived humility over his repeated visits to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the country.
Wike spoke on Thursday at the first Idoma Hall of Fame
induction ceremony, held in collaboration with Ochetoha K’Idoma, as part of the
Idoma Centenary Plus celebration in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, ‘People, Politics and Power in
Nigeria: The Agitation for Equity, Fairness and Justice,’ the minister urged
Nigerians to be wary of politicians he described as “gamblers” ahead of the
2027 elections.
In a post on X on July 19, 2023, Obi said he marked his 62nd
birthday with a visit to Bungha Pilot School in Mangu LGA, Plateau state, which
he described as the state’s biggest IDP camp at the time.
In another post on September 30, 2026, Obi, who is now the
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, said he had visited
12 IDP camps across Nigeria in recent weeks.
The former Anambra governor also shared pictures of himself
interacting and playing with children during a visit to the Ramin Kura IDP camp
in Sokoto, which he described as his 12th IDP camp visit.
While calling on the government to improve conditions in the
camps, Obi urged the president and other political office holders to spend
their holidays in Nigeria in order to see firsthand the difficulties vulnerable
citizens grapple with daily.
‘POLITICIANS CAN TELL LIES’
In an apparent reference to Obi, Wike questioned why a
politician who did not celebrate his birthday in an IDP camp while serving as
governor would want to do so while seeking the presidency.
“Politicians can tell lies. Yes. A man who did not celebrate
his birthday when he was a governor now wants to be president and wants to
celebrate his birthday in IDP camps? And you say, ‘Oh, he is very humble’.
Which humility is that?” he asked.
Wike also criticised politicians who, according to him,
suddenly start buying corn and groundnuts in public and visiting filling
stations to comment on fuel prices as they seek political office.
In a video that circulated on February 15, Rotimi Amaechi, a
former minister of transportation and vice-presidential candidate of the
African Democratic Congress (ADC), was seen eating corn and interacting with
supporters during the party’s campaign ahead of the last FCT council election.
In an apparent dig at Amaechi, Wike said such actions amount
to playing to the gallery, adding that Nigerians should not be swayed by
politicians’ public displays of humility.
“You see a man who has never bought corn on the road
suddenly buying corn and groundnuts in public. Who are you deceiving?” he
asked.
The FCT minister defended the current administration’s
efforts to address the country’s economic and security challenges, urging
Nigerians to compare the current situation with what obtained previously.
“Nobody is happy that we are where we are. But if we are to
trace our steps back to where we are coming from, are there attempts to improve
the situation? So, I will take this opportunity to let you know: don’t listen
to gamblers,” he said.
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