Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised Peter Obi, saying he does not attach much value to the former Anambra State governor’s statements because, according to him, Obi has not demonstrated consistency and tends to politicise national issues.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed recent remarks by Peter Obi over the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, saying he finds it difficult to place value on statements made by the opposition figure.
Wike made the remarks during a media chat in Abuja while reacting to Obi’s comments regarding the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State and his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s response to the incident.
Peter Obi had criticised the Tinubu administration over insecurity, alleging that President Tinubu failed to personally reach out to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde following the abduction of schoolchildren in the state.
Reacting, Wike said he could not confidently rely on Obi’s assertions because, in his view, the former governor had not been consistent in his public positions.
The FCT Minister argued that, in situations involving security incidents, it is the responsibility of a state governor—as the state’s chief security officer—to first brief the President on developments rather than expecting the President to initiate contact.
According to Wike, if Governor Makinde contacted President Tinubu and both leaders spoke, there would be no basis for the criticism advanced by Obi.
The exchange comes amid increasing political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general election, with leading political figures frequently disagreeing over governance, security and the performance of the Federal Government.
Peter Obi has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration on issues relating to the economy and insecurity, while government officials and key members of the ruling APC have continued to reject those criticisms.
During the media interaction, Wike maintained that he was not in a position to verify whether President Tinubu spoke with Governor Makinde after the incident, but insisted that proper communication channels should ordinarily begin with the state governor informing the President.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi had not publicly responded to Wike’s latest remarks.
The latest exchange further highlights the deepening political disagreements between senior government officials and opposition leaders as preparations for the 2027 general election gradually intensify. With debates over governance and national security continuing to dominate public discourse, similar political exchanges are expected in the months ahead.