The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he is secretly backing President Bola Tinubu, insisting that his political allegiance has always been open, public and consistent.
Wike, a former Governor of Rivers State, made this known while reacting to comments credited to the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who recently suggested that some politicians were engaging in corner-corner or secret political alliances.
Speaking during an end-of-the-year media chat on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Wike said there was nothing covert about his support for President Tinubu, stressing that his position had been known long before the 2023 general elections.
“I don’t know who is supporting Tinubu that is doing corner-corner. The whole of Nigeria knows that I’m the number one supporter of Tinubu,” Wike said.
He questioned the logic behind claims of secret alliances, noting that he had repeatedly stated his political choices publicly.
“What is corner-corner when I have stated openly that this is what I will do?” he asked.
Wike recalled that his open stance in support of Tinubu had earned him criticism and backlash from members of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“When the whole PDP accused me that I am working for Tinubu, how could that be corner-corner?” he queried.
According to him, his political philosophy is anchored on consistency and honouring agreements rather than political convenience.
“Why most people don’t trust politicians is that people don’t keep to their word. I don’t want to be that politician. Once I say this is what I will do, I will do it,” the minister stated.
Naijaonpoint reports that the controversy followed recent political developments in Rivers State after Governor Fubara formally defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier this month.
Fubara’s defection came after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja, a move widely seen as a strategic step ahead of future political battles.
During the inauguration of the extension of the dualisation of the Ahoada-Omoku Road on December 10, Fubara openly declared his support for the President, even unveiling a new praise song in Tinubu’s honour.
Addressing supporters at the event, the governor said, “If you dey support Tinubu, no follow corner. We support Tinubu, we no dey follow corner,” as he instructed a praise singer to perform the song.
Wike also addressed reports of tension within Rivers State’s political space, particularly allegations that he had been interfering in meetings involving the governor and the State House of Assembly.
He acknowledged the existence of disagreements but maintained that he had played a mediatory role to stabilise the political environment.
“The governor cannot say that I have not brokered meetings between the Speaker and the leadership of the House. He cannot also say that I have not brokered meetings between the elders, which he attended,” Wike said.
The minister cautioned against washing internal political disputes in public, urging political actors to handle sensitive issues maturely.
“There are things that shouldn’t come to national television. We should act like mature people,” he said.
While admitting that friction was inevitable in politics, Wike downplayed suggestions of an outright political war in the state.
“In politics, all can never be well. But that does not mean people are fighting,” he added.