The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday engaged in a verbal exchange over Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition and his capacity to lead Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Obi reaffirmed his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence in his ability to transform the country within four years if given the opportunity.
“I am contesting, and I am sure I will be on the ballot,” Obi said.
“People will have to look at who has the capacity and competence to do the job. I believe I am qualified and can change Nigeria’s trajectory positively within four years.”
Obi, who ran under the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has recently been linked with an emerging opposition coalition adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its common platform.
He, however, maintained that he remains in the Labour Party while collaborating with other political leaders “to rescue Nigeria from bad leadership.”
Addressing reports of his possible return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Anambra governor stressed that national recovery requires collective action among patriotic Nigerians, regardless of party lines.
Meanwhile, Wike, while inaugurating two newly constructed roads in the Mabushi District of Abuja, dismissed Obi’s claims, saying Nigeria was too complex for what he described as a “social media presidency.
”You ran for president under a party, and you couldn’t manage that party. You couldn’t hold your party together — is it Nigeria of over 200 million people you want to manage?” Wike queried.“You can know a good dancer from the first step.”
The former Rivers governor also accused Obi of political hypocrisy, criticising his public displays of compassion as insincere.
“Doing your birthday party in an IDP camp doesn’t mean you love Nigeria,” Wike said. “When you were a governor, why didn’t you do that? Every day, you talk about spending time with the less privileged — who are you trying to deceive? Enough is enough.”