The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has declared that Nigeria’s full economic recovery depends entirely on sustaining the bold reform policies initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing thousands of supporters, traditional rulers, and political stakeholders at a Rainbow Coalition Townhall meeting in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, Wike asserted that only the continuation of the current administration’s economic direction can permanently pull the country back from the brink of collapse.
Recalling his political guidance to the state ahead of the previous general election, the minister stressed that the hard economic choices being implemented today were necessary remedies to salvage a system that was virtually dead when President Tinubu took office. 
“Only the continuation of the economic reforms initiated by the Tinubu government can bring this country back from the economic comatose it was in before this present administration took over.
“When in 2023 I came here, I pleaded with you and said, ‘Listen, no matter how difficult it may sound, it is better for us to go the way I was going.’ So many people were afraid, but to the glory of God, we can see that we never made a mistake.”
Framing the 2027 presidential election around national economic stability, Wike urged citizens not to surrender the country’s progress to career politicians and political opportunists, whom he likened to chronic pool bettors who repeatedly gamble with public trust.
He singled out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, warning that supporting politicians who have made decades-long pursuits for power would mean diverting national funds to recoup lost campaign expenses rather than consolidating economic gains.
“Do not put your destiny into the hands of political gamblers or kalo-kalo players. Look at a man who has run for President for years—Atiku Abubakar.
“Every time he will try. If you make a mistake and support him, what you are doing is supporting him to recover all the money he has spent for those eight years. We cannot put your destiny in their hands,” he said.
Wike also took aim at former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, dismissing his public engagements—such as treadmill workouts and staged birthday visits to IDP camps—as superficial politics designed to deceive the public.
“People should pick a stance and tell themselves: ‘This is who I am,’ not changing like a chameleon. Tinubu is the person who has shown true direction,” he added.
Reaffirming that leadership must be judged by past governance records, Wike leveled a detailed critique against former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2007–2015), questioning how state resources were managed under his tenure before his current ambition to run for Vice President under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Minister challenged his predecessor to account for major capital allocations in Rivers State
“If I come now to campaign, you must ask me: the one we gave you before, how far?
Explaining the political strategy behind the cross-party Rainbow Coalition movement, Wike stated that delivering economic recovery requires total alignment between the Executive and the National Assembly.
He urged voters to support candidates under the All Progressives Congress (APC) alignment—including Senate, House of Representatives candidates to ensure legislative cooperation for President Tinubu’s economic policy agenda.
Wike called on party leaders and community mobilizers to prepare for an overwhelming turnout on election day.
“I want total mobilization on the 16th of January 2027. Everybody mobilized—make sure we vote and win decisively to protect our collective future,” he declared.
Earlier at the Palace of the Oba of Ogba Land, Nwachukwu Obuoha-Obi III, in Omoku, the minister appealed to the traditional leaders to support Tinubu’s re-election bid
He asserted that although traditional fathers remain non-partisan, the choices made in political governance directly impact the peace, economic welfare, and infrastructure of their communities.
Expressing gratitude to the monarch for receiving him and his entourage, Wike noted that his visit was aimed at enlightening the grassroots and traditional institutions on the political realities ahead of 2027.
Responding, Oba Obuoha-Obi assured Wike that the kingdom stands fully united behind the President’s leadership.
“It is only a wicked man whose heart has no God in it, that sees his brother going for something good and he begins to pull the building on his bed. Such one should not prosper,” he said.
Highlighting the vital role of the region in national unity, Obuoha-Obi noted that supporting Tinubu was essential for securing political voice, economic development, and sustainable progress for the people of Ogbaland.
On his part, the Executive Chairman of the LGA, Dr Chukwu Shedrack, commended Wike for his historic development projects in the council, including road construction, hospital upgrades, and human capital investments
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Dr. Shedrack highlighted several local governance achievements aligned with Wike’s leadership model.
Reaffirming ONELGA’s political commitment to the Tinubu administration’s economic recovery drive, Shedrack pledged a complete block vote for the APC across all elective positions in 2027.
“Your Excellency, we are fully mobilised, ward by ward, unit by unit. Come the 2027 general elections, ONELGA people will deliver 100 per cent, from President to National Assembly and House of Assembly—no vote will drop,” Shedrack assured.
