Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resilience in the face of pre-election challenges, declaring that divine favour and political experience helped him triumph against the odds in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike recounted how fuel scarcity and the controversial naira redesign policy nearly cost Tinubu the presidency, but asserted that “you must give it to him, God is on his side.”
He attributed these obstacles to the previous administration under the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the fuel scarcity and controversial naira redesign as deliberate moves to sabotage Tinubu’s chances at the polls.
“Whether APC liked it or not, it was very turbulent for Tinubu to have scaled through that election. You could see that he could have failed the election woefully. The fuel crisis, the naira issue was terrible,” Wike said.
“No party in government would at that time bring such a policy when you know you are running an election, but everything was done and he survived it.
“That’s how you will know that there are people that, first of all, God is on their side, they also know this game and you must give it to them.”
The former Rivers State governor also addressed internal matters within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), issuing a stern warning about his support for the upcoming FCT area council elections.
“If PDP does not put their house in order, I’m not going to support them in the area councils election. If PDP goes the way they are going, I will not support them,” Wike said.
He stressed that the party’s ongoing crisis must be resolved and hinted at the significant role he continues to play behind the scenes, even without directly nominating candidates.
“This crisis will consume this party until the right thing is being done. I have never recommended anybody to these governors but that does not mean that I don’t play any role.
“Like the governor of Bayelsa, I played a fundamental role, he can’t deny it.”
Wike reiterated his earlier position from 2023, emphasising that the presidency should rotate to the North only in 2031.
“I have said it in 2023 and I’m saying it again that until 2031, when the position should go to the North, there is nothing anybody will say to me now.
“It’s not anti-party, it’s harmonious living together, you can’t tell me that it’s your own prerogative to be producing president; let’s all live,” the FCT Minister stated.