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• says political differences must give way to collective interest
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged political leaders in Rivers State to build a broad-based political structure to mobilise votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, reiterating his pledge to resign if the President loses in Rivers State and the FCT.
Wike made the call on Friday during a strategic consultative meeting with political stakeholders in Akpor Kingdom, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he urged party leaders and community influencers to close ranks ahead of the elections.
He said his political engagement in Rivers State was driven by the desire to advance the interests of the people, insisting that political differences should not prevent stakeholders from working together.
“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back here not for what I will get, but for what I will be to raise my people,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor maintained that political alliances should be determined by collective interests rather than past disagreements, urging his supporters to accommodate former political opponents.
“There is no permanent enemy in politics; what we have is permanent collective interest. It is all about the interest of our people. The more you are in number, the happier you become,” he said.
Wike, who described leadership as requiring the ability to accommodate opposing views, cautioned his supporters against allowing criticism of his political engagements with former adversaries to distract them from their mobilisation efforts.
Reflecting on his appointment as FCT Minister, Wike said Tinubu had made possible what many had considered politically unattainable, describing his emergence as a member of the Federal Executive Council as a significant development in his political career.
“You know how difficult, you know how impossible it looked, but he made it possible for us to produce the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
He urged political stakeholders in Obio-Akpor to establish an inclusive mobilisation structure, involving traditional rulers, religious leaders, community figures and other influential groups, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“Obio-Akpor as a whole, whether you are a politician, whether you are a traditional ruler, whether you are a pastor, or whether you are a native doctor, I need everybody now,” Wike said.
He added that electoral mobilisation should extend beyond established political structures to ensure that all eligible voters were reached.
“Because all of them will vote. For the purpose of voting and elections, we must bring everyone together,” he said.
The FCT Minister also urged local government leaders to strengthen their relationships with constituents, citing his experience as the first elected chairman of Obio-Akpor to secure a second term after the council’s creation in 1989.
He attributed his re-election to his record in office and personal engagement with residents, urging current political office holders to maintain similar relationships with their constituents.
“I was not elected two times because I was just chairman. I was elected because people felt the impact of governance and because I related with the people. Anywhere, whether for burial or thanksgiving, I was always identifying with them,” he said.
Wike identified Wards 15, 16 and 17 in Obio-Akpor as strategic areas in the forthcoming elections, urging political leaders to maximise their electoral potential.
“We have over 200 units across three very important wards, Ward 15, Ward 16 and Ward 17. These three wards can defeat 10 wards in Obio-Akpor. They are three wards with a difference, and you must utilise them to make that difference,” he said.
He directed local political leaders to deploy coordinators across polling units and intensify door-to-door mobilisation, urging them to engage their families, in-laws and neighbours in the political process.
Wike also pledged to continue monitoring elected council officials and holding them accountable for their performance, describing himself as the state’s chief critic.
The meeting was attended by the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other political leaders.
