Supporters of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have responded to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following his recent remark describing the former Anambra State governor as a “social media president”.
Obi’s media aide and the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the movement was unconcerned about Wike’s statements, arguing that the minister often mentions Obi’s name to maintain relevance.
“Let me tell you something. How will Wike sell his market if he doesn’t mention Peter Obi?” Tanko said. “As I am talking to you, you need to see the mammoth crowd we have in our town hall meeting here in Nnewi (Anambra State). Wike is the least of our worries now. We are meeting all our unit commanders in Anambra, and everyone is responding in an orderly manner.”
Tanko defended Obi’s recent comments about the poor condition of public schools in the FCT, saying the Labour Party leader merely spoke the truth.
“Obi has done nothing wrong. I was there on the ground and saw those dilapidated buildings. We also visited a clinic where only one nurse was on duty. Even the roads to the place are not easily accessible. What Obi did was simply to point out public facilities in dire need of attention. Wike needs to face that reality and do his job,” he said.
On Thursday, Wike had dismissed Obi’s criticisms, accusing him of politicising national matters.
Speaking during the commissioning of newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja, the minister alleged that Obi was more concerned about gaining online sympathy than creating a meaningful legacy.
“I hear one of the social media presidential candidates went to a local authority school and said the government has abandoned public schools. His name is Mr. Peter Obi. It’s not everything you must play politics with,” Wike said.
The minister questioned Obi’s credibility to criticise any government, claiming that he failed to complete key infrastructural projects during his eight years as governor of Anambra State.
“Peter Obi, you were governor for eight years. If you had finished all the jobs, nobody would be talking about developing Anambra by now. Instead of developing Anambra, you put the money in the bank where you have an interest, looking for profit while the state suffered,” he alleged.
Wike asserted that his achievements in just two years as FCT Minister were more visible than Obi’s eight years in Anambra.
“Compare what we have done in two years in the FCT to what you did in eight years in Anambra. Can you really say you love this country? Certainly not,” he said.
He further described Obi as an unstable politician and a failed party leader, saying, “you will continue to contest as President on social media, but not as President of Nigeria.”
“You ran for President under a party you could not even manage. You couldn’t hold your party together, yet you want to lead a country of over 200 million people. It’s not available for people like you,” Wike said.
