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Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has sharply criticised former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for his comments regarding the recent local council elections in Rivers State.
Wike, speaking at a media parley on Monday, defended the election’s legitimacy and conduct while accusing his critics of hypocrisy.
“Who can be more of a rascal than Peter Obi?” Wike questioned, citing Obi’s own record as governor.
“Obi became a governor for eight years; he conducted local government elections two months before leaving office. After spending eight years as governor, does he have what it takes to comment about the conduct of an election that was properly done and backed up by law?”
Wike also brought up past issues during Obi’s tenure, stating, “When Obi was governor, doctors went on strike for 13 months; hospitals were shut down. Who is more of a rascal?” He suggested that the criticism stems from a loss of political influence and financial access in Rivers State.
“The anger is that they are looking for where they will get funding, and that is no longer available in Rivers State. He has no capacity to talk about the election.”
Defending the process, Wike pointed to a court judgment and the emergency rule under which the elections were held, noting that the president had approved the conduct of the polls.
He urged critics to focus on the outcome rather than the legality of the process, which he insists is sound.
He commended the security agencies and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for a peaceful and transparent election. “For the first time in our history, no gunshots, no snatching of ballot boxes, no kidnapping of returning officers,” Wike stated. “Nobody wants to come out and commend the security agencies and RSIEC but keeps saying it’s illegal. Illegal to you, while the court has not pronounced it illegal.”
