You Will Continue to Contest as President on Social Media, Not as President of Nigeria” — Wike Taunts Obi

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, declaring that he will “continue to contest as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria.”

Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the inauguration of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja, reacting to Obi’s recent criticism of the poor state of public schools in the FCT.

Obi, during a visit to LEA Primary School, Kapwa, on Wednesday, had described the conditions of the school as “a national disgrace” and evidence of Nigeria’s weak commitment to education. The former Anambra State governor decried the absence of chairs, toilets, and other basic amenities, blaming the decay on poor leadership and misplaced priorities.

In a sharp response, Wike accused Obi of playing politics with every issue and seeking sympathy through emotional public appearances. “I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to one of the Local Authority schools saying the government has abandoned public schools. In particular, his name is Mr Peter Obi. It is not everything you must play politics with,” he said.

Wike questioned Obi’s record as governor, alleging that he failed to deliver meaningful development in Anambra State. “Peter Obi, you were governor for eight years in Anambra State. If you had finished all the jobs in eight years, nobody would be talking about developing Anambra by now. And why did you have problems with your successor?” he asked.

He further claimed that his own two years as FCT minister had achieved more than Obi’s eight years in Anambra. “We just came into office two years ago. Compare two years in office of what we have done in FCT with eight years in office in Anambra. Can you really say you love this country or Ndi Anambra? Certainly not,” he said.

Wike also mocked Obi’s leadership of the Labour Party, saying he lacked the capacity to govern Nigeria. “You ran as President under a party; you cannot manage the party. Ordinary party, you cannot manage to hold together. It is Nigeria of over two hundred million people that you want to manage? It’s not available for people like you,” he said.