Wike: Tinubu knows about my ‘Rainbow Coalition’

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu is aware of his political activities, including his mobilisation of support for the president’s 2027 re-election across party lines.

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, made the remarks on Tuesday night during an interview on Arise News’ Prime Time.

“There is nothing that I do that I don’t tell Mr. President,” he said.

The minister said his cross-party mobilisation, which he described as a “Rainbow Coalition”, was aimed at supporting Tinubu’s re-election and was not a secret political arrangement.

He stressed that his support was for Tinubu as an individual and not for the All Progressives Congress.

Wike also rejected suggestions that he should be accountable to APC governors because of his support for the president.

“I’m not answerable to APC governors,” he said.

The minister defended his political activities while responding to criticism from some APC governors over his recent mobilisation efforts.

“If people fail to learn from other people, they don’t grow. I took 31 days to commission projects in the FCT and they are not happy,” he said.

Wike also took aim at Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, questioning the level of support Tinubu received in Imo during the 2023 presidential election.

“Hope Uzodimma should be lucky that I’m not in the APC. Hope fears for nothing,” Wike said.

He described some APC governors who recently criticised his political activities as “smart but politically lazy.”

According to him, Tinubu’s support from governors across different political parties does not necessarily mean those governors will abandon their parties during other elections.

“The governors of Osun, Anambra and Abia States are supporting the President’s re-election. Won’t they still support the candidates of their parties in other elections? So where is the confusion?” he asked.

On Rivers State, Wike attributed what he described as improved political stability in the state to his “Rainbow Coalition”.

“Because of our rainbow coalition, we no longer have Rivers of blood. There is no litigation on party candidates in Rivers State, unlike Imo State,” he said.

Asked about Tinubu’s prospects in other South-South states, Wike mentioned Bayelsa, saying sections of the PDP in the state were working for the president.

“That can happen in Bayelsa State. The whole PDP there is working for the President,” he said.

Wike also dismissed an apparent reference to the political influence of the founder of the Niger Delta Congress, saying, “The founder of the NDC is not the founder of Bayelsa.”

The minister further expressed confidence in Tinubu’s support in the Federal Capital Territory.

“As I sit here today, I will tell you that the President will win in the FCT,” he added.