The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of exploiting humanitarian gestures for political gain ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike’s remarks come days after Obi visited the LEA Primary School in Kapwa, Abuja, where he decried the poor state of public infrastructure and described the condition of some schools in the FCT as a “national disgrace.”
Speaking on Thursday during the commissioning of road projects in Abuja, Wike dismissed Obi’s criticism as opportunistic, suggesting it was part of a broader strategy to boost his political image.
“You can’t become president of Nigeria just by going to IDP camps for birthday celebrations. Who is interested in that?”
“When you were governor in Anambra, why didn’t you celebrate birthdays in IDP camps? Now that you want to be president, every birthday is with the less privileged. Who are you trying to deceive?, ” Wike said.
The FCT minister went further to question Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State, challenging his moral authority to criticise an administration only two years into office.
“Mr Peter Obi, we just came into office two years ago. We haven’t even spent four years. But you — you were governor for eight years. If I were you, I’d keep quiet. Enough is enough,” Wike said.
Wike also accused Obi of using propaganda to gain political mileage, adding that the Labour Party leader had failed to manage his own party effectively, let alone run a country.
“You will continue to contest on social media, but not as President of Nigeria,” Wike said.
While promising to unveil the FCT administration’s efforts to improve education by next week, Wike reiterated that governance should not be reduced to symbolic gestures or public sympathy acts.
As of press time, Peter Obi had not issued a formal response to Wike’s comments.
However, Obi’s recent outreach efforts including celebrating his birthday in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, have garnered attention from supporters who view his actions as a sign of empathy and people-focused leadership.
The exchange highlighted ongoing political tensions as Nigeria begins to see early signs of alignment and rivalry ahead of the 2027 general elections.
