Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has forecasted a turbulent political future for Nyewom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in his relationship with President Bola Tinubu. Lamido, speaking on the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Wike’s association with the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, suggested that Wike will soon become a “political orphan” in the Tinubu administration.
“When the PDP was formed in 1998, its main focus was to restore unity in Nigeria and rebuild public confidence following the annulment of the 1993 presidential election,” Lamido explained. He credited the PDP with stabilizing the country, especially by electing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo from the South West as president, despite initial regional opposition to him.
However, Lamido lamented that the party failed to build on that stability. He noted that much of the current government, including several governors and key figures such as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, originally belonged to the PDP. Lamido highlighted the irony that the most experienced team to address Nigeria’s challenges consists largely of former PDP members.
“Who is Wike?” Lamido Questions His Political Relevance
Addressing speculations that Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, has significant political influence, Lamido dismissed such narratives. He questioned, “If Tinubu is not tolerating him, who is Wike?” Lamido further elaborated that Wike is “a creation” of the PDP and argued that his current status is merely the result of a political environment that allows him to manipulate and exploit circumstances for personal gain.
Wike Was Not a Plant to Undermine the PDP
Responding to theories that Wike was strategically positioned to undermine the PDP from within, Lamido rejected the idea, stating, “No, Wike wasn’t planted. He is PDP.” He argued that Wike’s actions are indicative of a broader trend in Nigerian politics but insisted that the arrangement between Wike and Tinubu is “unholy, immoral, and un-Nigerian.”
Lamido predicted that both Wike and Tinubu would ultimately lose out, claiming that their alliance is fundamentally against the national interest and detrimental to the country’s development. He criticized Wike for lacking the character and integrity to remain loyal to his party, accusing him of “mortgaging his own party.”
Tinubu’s Political Future: A Warning
When asked whether the PDP has conceded that Tinubu is unstoppable in the 2027 elections, Lamido responded with a metaphor: “Even Pharaoh’s empire collapsed. So, no matter how daring you are, it won’t end well.” He described Tinubu as a powerful figure who has mastered the art of political manipulation but warned that his approach would not lead to a sustainable future for Nigeria.
