The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, mocking him for what he described as a pattern of contesting for the presidency only “on social media.”
Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the commissioning of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja, responding to Obi’s recent criticism of the state of public schools in the FCT.
Background to the Dispute
Earlier, Obi had visited LEA Primary School in Kapwa, describing its poor condition as a “national disgrace” and evidence of the government’s failure to prioritize education. He lamented the lack of chairs, toilets, and basic classroom amenities, linking it to weak leadership and neglect.
Wike’s Reaction
Reacting sharply, Wike accused Obi of politicizing every issue and using emotional stunts to court public sympathy online. The minister insisted that his administration was actively working to improve infrastructure across the FCT and dismissed the criticism as hypocritical.
“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to one of the Local Authority area schools and was saying that the government has abandoned public schools. In particular, his name is Mr Peter Obi. It is not everything you must play politics with,” Wike said.
The FCT minister went further to question Obi’s credibility to criticize any government, referencing his record as governor of Anambra State.
“Let me say this, 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 stated.
Wike accused Obi of failing to deliver infrastructural development during his tenure, alleging that he placed personal interests above public welfare.
“Mr Peter Obi, we just came into office two years ago, we have not even served four years. But you served eight good years. Compare two years in office of what we have done in FCT, and compare eight years in office in Anambra, can you really say you love this country? Can you really say you love Ndi Anambra? Certainly not.”
The minister concluded with a jab at Obi’s political future.
“You will continue to contest as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria. You ran as President under a party; you cannot manage the party.
“Ordinary party, you cannot manage the party to hold the party together, you cannot. It is Nigeria of two hundred and something million people that you want to manage. It’s not available for people like you,” Wike stated.