The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned Nigerians against urging former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting such moves are a recipe for political instability.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Wike described the calls for Jonathan’s return as both insincere and hypocritical, especially coming from the same individuals who abandoned him during his failed re-election bid in 2015.
“Anybody saying Jonathan should return because he will only do one term is only looking for crisis. These are the same people who abandoned him in 2015. Why now? Jonathan has made a name for himself globally and they just want to drag him into unnecessary conflict,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister further argued that presenting Jonathan, or any candidate from the South, under the guise of a “one-term presidency” was a calculated attempt to disrupt Nigeria’s political balance.
Wike on Tinubu’s Administration
Commenting on the current state of the nation, Wike acknowledged that Nigerians are experiencing economic hardship but maintained that President Bola Tinubu has taken “tough but necessary decisions” to reposition the economy.
“Yes, there is hardship. I agree. But no one can deny that this government is making efforts to improve things. I see the projects in Abuja daily; they are evidence that something is happening,” he emphasized.
Wike Slams Atiku Abubakar
Wike also took a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently warned of a possible revolution due to hunger and poverty in the country. According to Wike, Atiku’s comments are hypocritical given his own record in government.
“Atiku was vice president for eight years. Why didn’t he lay the foundation to prevent hunger then? Now he keeps talking about hunger and revolution. For me, I don’t even bother reading what he says, because there is no truth in it,” Wike declared.
The minister emphasized that while citizens must remain patient with the Tinubu administration, opposition leaders should refrain from exploiting the nation’s economic challenges for political gain.
