‘He doesn’t believe in Nigeria’: Wike knocks Obi for ‘disrespecting’ National Anthem

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has critised the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi,for allegedly refusing to stand for the national anthem.

Wike ‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠⁠‍‍‌‍‌made the remark at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State, organised by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, on Friday, November 13, 2026.

The minister’s comments followed a viral video from the NDC meeting in Lagos on Thursday, where Obi, the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Funso Doherty, and party supporters declined to recite the current national anthem, and instead sang the former anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots”.

Addressing traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, and party faithful, the minister argued that a leader who disregarded national symbols could not be trusted with the presidency.

Wike said: “A whole national anthem of a country is being sung. A man who wants to be President of Nigeria would disobey and sit down. And then not only that, when a different national anthem that is not being used for Nigeria was sung, he stood up.

“In a way, he does not belong to this country. In a way, he has said he does not belong to this country; that if you give him president, he would do a different thing that will divide Nigeria.

“A man who does not believe in Nigeria, someone who derives joy in ridiculing the country by disrespecting its symbolic National Anthem must not be allowed to come near the presidency of our country.”

Wike also criticised Obi’s political trajectory and past governance record, alleging that the former Anambra State Governor frequently abandoned political parties during internal crises rather than resolving them.

He further faulted Obi for not conducting local government elections during his eight-year tenure as governor, describing it as a contradiction to his professed belief in the rule of law.

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Wike also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

He questioned their track records in public office, citing the state of seaports during Amaechi’s tenure as Minister of Transportation and alleging that the administration demolished Government Secondary School, Ogu, without rebuilding it.

Wike also cited Amaechi’s unfulfilled promise of a 1,000-bed specialist hospital.

Urging the people of Ogu-Bolo to disregard what he termed “big grammar” from opposition politicians on television, Wike stressed that Tinubu’s administration had delivered tangible dividends of democracy to the area.

He cited the construction of the Ogu-Bolo Civic Centre, facilitated through the federal appointment of an indigene, Boma Iyaye, as well as the restoration of local government autonomy that enabled the election of council chairmen.

Wike urged the residents to massively support the re-election of Tinubu, Kingsley Chinda for governor of Rivers State, and all APC candidates seeking National Assembly seats.