Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of demonstrating lawlessness and disposition towards national division by allegedly refusing to stand for Nigeria’s national anthem while standing for an alternative anthem.
Wike said such conduct raised questions about Obi’s commitment to Nigeria and disqualified him from being entrusted with the country’s presidency.
The minister spoke on Friday during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo local government area of Rivers State organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.
Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and party supporters, Wike maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must demonstrate respect for its national symbols and institutions.
“A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be president of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up.
“In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him the presidency, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria,” he said.
Wike added that Nigerians should not allow someone who, in his view, ridicules the country by disrespecting its national anthem to occupy the highest political office.
He also questioned Obi’s political consistency, accusing the former Anambra State governor of frequently abandoning political parties whenever internal disagreements arise instead of remaining to resolve them.
The FCT minister further faulted Obi for failing to conduct local government elections throughout his eight-year tenure as governor, describing the development as contradictory to his professed commitment to the rule of law.
Wike also criticised the opposition coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, questioning their records in public office.
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He specifically challenged Amaechi’s performance as Minister of Transportation, citing the condition of the country’s seaports. He also alleged that Government Secondary School, Ogu, was demolished without reconstruction and that promises concerning a 1,000-bed specialist hospital were not fulfilled.
Calling on the people of Ogu-Bolo to disregard what he described as the ‘big grammar’ of opposition politicians on television, Wike said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated its commitment to the development of the area through tangible projects and political appointments.
He cited the construction of the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre, facilitated through the federal appointment of an indigene, Boma Iyaye, as well as the conduct of local government elections.
The minister urged residents to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, Kingsley Chinda’s governorship ambition in Rivers State and APC candidates seeking election into the National Assembly.
Earlier, the chairman of Ogu-Bolo local government council, Vincent Nemieboka, said the meeting brought together key stakeholders in the area, including traditional rulers, Community Development Committee executives, youth leaders, women’s groups and elders.
He attributed the community’s support for Wike to development projects and strategic political appointments facilitated for indigenes of the local government.
“I will not be boasting if I say you should consider everybody here as your supporter.
“Considering the volume of things, projects and appointments you have implemented in this local government area, we will be glad to welcome you always, support you always and follow you always,” Nemieboka said.
Similarly, the Amanyanabo of Bolo, King Acheseinimie Frank, acknowledged the infrastructure development taking place across Ogu-Bolo through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The monarch identified ongoing sand-filling projects, internal road construction and the construction and maintenance of the Kira-Ogu-Bolo Road as evidence of development in the area.
