The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid declaring that the President deserves a second term for taking bold economic decisions previous administrations allegedly shied away from.
Wike who urged Rivers State residents to support Tinubu in 2027 described the President’s removal of the petrol subsidy as evidence of courageous leadership despite the economic hardship the policy has imposed on Nigerians.
The minister spoke at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State where he also canvassed support for candidates endorsed by the political alliance.
He acknowledged the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians but argued that the subsidy removal had increased revenue accruing to state and local governments creating opportunities for improved governance and service delivery.
‘We know what Nigerians are going through but we are sure that things will get better. Most importantly we know what this country was like before now’ he said.
According to him leadership requires the courage to take difficult decisions in the national interest rather than surrender to public criticism.
Wike argued that the subsidy regime had placed a heavy burden on government finances making it difficult to meet obligations to workers pensioners and public institutions.
He urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the Tinubu administration insisting that the reforms had not yet resolved all the country’s economic challenges.
The former Rivers State governor drew parallels with his administration’s infrastructure projects particularly the construction of flyovers which he said attracted criticism and caused temporary disruptions to businesses and traffic before delivering long-term benefits.
He maintained that leaders must sometimes accept short-term inconveniences to achieve lasting development.
Wike also questioned the capacity of opposition politicians to provide a credible alternative to the current administration warning voters against entrusting the country’s future to politicians he described as political gamblers.
‘Don’t carry your destiny to political gamblers’ he told the gathering.
He said the town hall meeting was designed to equip residents with information on political developments and enable them to make informed decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike blamed inadequate information and political propaganda for influencing some voting decisions in 2023 urging residents not to repeat what he described as past mistakes.
He also cautioned religious leaders against allowing political considerations to distract them from their spiritual responsibilities saying politicians should take responsibility for explaining political issues to the electorate.
Describing Eleme as economically strategic to Nigeria the minister urged residents to recognise the implications of their political choices for the area Rivers State and the country.
Beyond Tinubu’s re-election Wike used the meeting to mobilise support for the Rainbow Coalition an alliance involving members of different political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Identifying himself as a PDP national leader Wike said members of the coalition had agreed to work together and support candidates contesting under the APC platform in the forthcoming elections.
He urged Rivers residents to back Tinubu and the coalition’s preferred candidates for governorship legislative and other elective positions arguing that political cooperation would strengthen the state’s relationship with the Federal Government.
Wike said the alliance was formed to promote peace unity and development stressing that political differences should not be allowed to trigger violence or undermine governance.
‘We don’t want Rivers of blood. We don’t want rivers of shooting. The two main political parties in this state are APC and PDP. They have joined together with other political parties to say ‘Let there be peace in Rivers State let there be development and unity” he said.
He further called for cooperation among the Federal Government the Rivers State Government and elected representatives saying such collaboration was necessary to advance the state’s interests.
Wike urged the people of Eleme to support the coalition’s candidates insisting that political stability and unity were essential to development.
Traditional rulers religious leaders women youths political leaders and representatives of parties participating in the Rainbow Coalition attended the meeting.