Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked former Anambra State governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, questioning his capability to control Nigeria and describing him as a “president of social media.”
Wike spoke on Saturday throughout a city corridor assembly with stakeholders in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, the place he criticised Obi’s management file and dismissed his on-line reputation as inadequate qualification for the presidency.
“Truly speaking, I gave him president of social media. If you were to vote who will be president of social media, I will vote for him. But if it is to govern Nigeria, it capital no!” the minister stated.
He additionally ridiculed Obi’s observe of carrying his personal baggage, describing it as an try to challenge a picture of frugality that, in his view, raised questions on his suitability for the nation’s highest workplace.
“As a former governor, you cannot be stingy not to have employed a personal assistant who will carry your bag. You want to show you carry your bag. We don’t want such a stingy person as a president,” Wike stated.
The minister additional challenged Obi’s file as Anambra governor, urging Nigerians to check his administration with that of the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo.
He argued that aspiring leaders ought to be judged by their efficiency in workplace and their capability to handle political and governance challenges, slightly than public notion or marketing campaign rhetoric.
Wike additionally criticised politicians who depart their events throughout inside crises, citing his expertise within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as proof that political disputes ought to be confronted slightly than prevented.
“How will you solve the problem of the country? Did you see when there was a problem in PDP? Did I run? I defeated them,” he stated.
Turning to Rivers State, the minister accused the earlier administration of losing public funds on initiatives that did not ship commensurate advantages to residents.
He alleged that $39 million, which he estimated at N53 billion, was spent on a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital with out the challenge reaching the muse stage.
“Thirty-nine million US dollars, 53 billion naira, gone! As I speak to you, there’s no foundation, no one block laid,” he stated.
Wike additionally questioned the viability of the state’s monorail challenge, alleging that about N60 billion was spent on it with out sufficient returns for the individuals.
On the sale of a fuel turbine, he claimed the transaction was valued at $308 million, alleging that solely $308,000 remained within the related state account when he assumed workplace in May 2015.
He additional recalled a proposal to spend $10 million on fumigating Rivers State to sort out mosquitoes, questioning the justification for the expenditure given the state’s geographical boundaries with neighbouring states.
The minister urged voters to look at the data of politicians looking for public workplace, insisting that previous efficiency ought to carry extra weight than marketing campaign guarantees.
He additionally criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket and questioned the reliability of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he stated he had recognized since their days within the PDP.
Wike reaffirmed his help for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his intention to again the get together within the 2027 presidential election.
He stated the Rainbow Coalition had united politicians throughout get together traces in Rivers State to cut back political tensions and violence, at the same time as members ready to contest elections underneath completely different platforms.
“Under a Rainbow Coalition, that’s why in our state today, you see APC, PDP, all of us. No more Rivers of blood, no more shooting, not many people going to die,” he stated.
Wike introduced that the coalition would unveil its candidates on October 27, naming Kingsley Chinda as its most popular candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.
He additionally disclosed candidates for different elective positions, explaining that some would contest underneath the APC regardless of the coalition’s cross-party membership.
The minister urged Rivers residents to help candidates he described as skilled and dedicated to public service, whereas assuring Bonny residents that points raised through the assembly would obtain consideration.
He additionally praised the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road, describing it as a serious infrastructure achievement that had improved entry to the island neighborhood and eased the difficulties residents beforehand confronted when travelling by boat.
Wike stated he had knowledgeable President Tinubu that the street’s completion was a major milestone for Bonny, stressing that improved infrastructure was important to the neighborhood’s improvement.
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