Politics

Atiku Vs Wike: Nobody Can Play God, Fayose On Advice To PDP Presidential Candidate

Published

3 years ago

March 8, 2023

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has opened up on the advice he gave the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on how to solve the enmity between him and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Fayose, who admitted that nobody could play God, revealed that he advised Atiku to go to Port Harcourt to resolve with Wike amid the lingering crisis of the PDP but his advice fell on deaf ears.

He disclosed this in an interview with TVC on Wednesday.

Fayose said, “Our candidate, Atiku Abubakar invited me and I told him I was going to tell [Nyesom] Wike before I could come. When I told Wike and he said I can go. Somebody said, but you’re an older Governor than Wike, but whatever, that is your story. God makes kings, God makes people be leaders, you might be younger, or older as long as he’s the leader.

“So I went to our candidate in his hotel and I told him, “Your Excellency, it would be of great interest if you win the [2023 Presidential] election. I told him these are the demands of these people.” I said, “please stop saying by the constitution [Iyorchia] Ayu can’t be removed.”

“I advised him, I gave him alternatives to what he should be saying and I told him, the more he mentions this constitution, they’ll be reminding you that you aren’t supposed to be the candidate. How can they hold on to an [Iyorchia] Ayu against Wike, against [ Ifeanyi] Ugwuanyi, against the governor of Abia, against the governor of Benue, and so on?

“Even if you tell me that they lost, everyone knows that [Peter] Obi had the East. They weren’t expecting that a miracle would happen. But the issue is that I told His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, I said Sir, go to Port Harcourt, don’t tell anybody, people like me will go and wait for you there, I and Gov. Wike, just provide a few friends that can get a convoy for you to come and park at Governor WIke’s gate.

“They will come and see us at the gate. We will now sit down there and he will hold Wike and settle the matter. But certain people around Abubakar said no, don’t embarrass our Presidential candidate, he’s the president in waiting, nobody can feel big, nobody can play God.”

Recall that the PDP held its presidential primaries last May this year.

Atiku emerged as PDP’s Presidential flagbearer for the 2023 general election.

Atiku defeated Wike after he secured 371 votes, while the governor, who came second, garnered 237 votes.

Wike has been aggrieved with PDP’s leadership over Atiku’s choice of a running mate.

Atiku ignored Wike, who came second during the PDP’s presidential primaries, a situation that tore the party apart.

Following his action, Wike called for the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu.

The governor noted that the North could not produce PDP’s presidential candidate and the National Chairman.

Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

3 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

45 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

52 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.